Ayala-led ACEN Corp. has gained approval from the government of New South Wales to increase its battery energy storage system in Australia, enabling a capacity increase to 2,800 megawatt-hours (MW) or 1,400 MW per two hours from the initial 200 MW per two hours.
In a statement on Sunday, ACEN Australia CEO Anton Rohner said that the New England Solar battery storage can charge using surplus power generated from solar and wind, and release that energy when needed.
With the expanded storage capacity, the project will be able to increase energy potential, enabling it to generate enough power to meet the needs of approximately 175,000 households.
According to Mr. Rohner, the increased storage capacity will contribute to the production of “reliable, cheaper and greener” energy for New South Wales.
Chief Operating Officer for ACEN International Patrice R. Clausse conveyed enthusiasm for the collaborative efforts aimed at decarbonizing New South Wales and Australia as a whole, as he expressed gratitude for the ongoing support of the foreign government
The 720 MW alternating current (MWac) New England battery storage project by ACEN is being developed in two stages, with the first phase consisting of a 400 MWac (or 521-megawatt direct current, MWdc) capacity, which was inaugurated in March of this year.
With the approved expansion, ACEN stated that the planning for the project’s second phase has advanced closer to construction, which includes making adjustments to the solar project area in Stage 2 and optimizing the project.
This allows an option to access a minimum price for generation projects.
ACEN Australia has over 1 gigawatt (GW) capacity under construction and a development pipeline of at least 8 gigawatts (GW).
The company’s renewable energy portfolio encompasses various assets such as solar, wind, battery, pumped hydro, and energy storage projects located throughout Australia.
ACEN is looking to install 20 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2030. Presently, the company possesses approximately 4,200 megawatts (MW) of capacity attributed to its power facilities situated in the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, and Australia.
ACEN has expressed its dedication to achieving a complete transition of its power generation portfolio to renewable energy sources by 2025 and has set a long-term goal of becoming a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions company by 2050.
