Australia adds major battery storage projects in Alice Springs, Darwin‑Katherine and New South Wales

Territory Generation has awarded Pacific Energy a contract to build the next phase of its Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) program, installing large‑scale batteries at the Owen Springs Power Station in Alice Springs and the Katherine Power Station in the Darwin‑Katherine region. The $82.1 million investment aims to strengthen grid security, improve operational efficiency, support peak‑demand response and enable more solar generation to be connected reliably. Local contractors will take part in construction, boosting regional capability.

Separately, the 415 MW/1,660 MWh Orana BESS near Wellington, New South Wales, entered commercial operation on 26 June under a 12‑year virtual‑tolling agreement between EnergyAustralia and Akaysha Energy. The deal gives the retailer access to the battery’s firming services without owning the asset, helping it manage wholesale price volatility while supporting greater renewable integration as coal‑fired plants retire. Both projects illustrate Australia’s shift toward a more flexible, resilient grid powered increasingly by renewable energy.