Australia's Capacity Investment Scheme Awards 4.2 GW of Battery Storage Projects

The federal government's Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) announced the results of Tender 8, selecting 15 stand‑alone lithium‑ion battery projects that together provide 4.2 GW of power and 16.1 GWh of storage capacity. The projects are spread across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, with Queensland receiving the largest share – six projects totalling more than 6 GWh, including the Byellee BESS (300 MW/1.16 GWh) and Grahams Battery (350 MW/1.43 GWh).

Developers secured multiple contracts: Ampyr Energy won four projects (Grahams, Rutherglen, Bulabul 1, Wimpole), Potentia Energy three, Edify Energy two, and Akaysha Energy two. All installations meet a minimum four‑hour duration requirement, with several exceeding five hours.

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the scheme will unlock about AU$6 billion in private investment and deliver roughly AU$343 million in community and industry benefits, creating jobs in regional areas and helping lower electricity bills by storing cheap renewable power for peak‑time use.