Australia's Battery Boom Powers Up a Bright Start to 2025

A Cracking Start for Clean Energy Storage: Australia’s Electric Future

A Promising Year for Battery Energy

Australia has kicked off 2025 with a massive boost to its battery energy storage sector. The country has locked in six major projects worth a whopping $2.4 billion. These developments will collectively bring 1,510 megawatts (MW) of power capacity and over 5 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of storage — all within just the first three months of the year.

Record-Breaking Investment Momentum

According to the Clean Energy Council (CEC), this remarkable start marks the best-ever annual launch for storage project investments. It is also the second-highest quarterly energy output on record. Even with a federal election looming, investor confidence is robust. This confidence is propelling the clean energy sector toward unprecedented heights.

Wind, Solar, and Storage Lead the Way

Arron Wood, CEC’s chief policy and impact officer, states that this momentum confirms the most cost-effective way to power the country. The combination of solar and wind energy with battery storage creates a cleaner and more reliable energy supply for Australians. This approach benefits everyone by offering cheaper electricity.

The $9 Billion Leap Forward

Further backing this trend, the CEC’s annual snapshot for 2024 reveals financial commitments to large-scale renewables have skyrocketed. There was an increase of more than 500%, soaring from $1.5 billion in 2023 to nearly $9 billion. This boom outpaces the previous surge in 2018. When utility-scale battery storage is included, 2024 will be the biggest investment year in Australia’s clean energy history.

Policy Backing Powers Confidence

CEC chief Kane Thornton attributes this surge to various factors. Easing inflation and reduced supply chain costs have helped. However, improved governmental support, particularly through the expanded Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS), has been pivotal. It is still early days, but Thornton believes the scheme is sending positive signals to investors and will foster future growth.

Still Room to Grow

The year 2024 added 2 GW of new clean energy generation. This figure is still below the 6 GW needed per year to replace coal by 2030. Despite this shortfall, Thornton remains optimistic. He believes the increasing number of projects reaching financial close indicates that higher development levels are achievable in the near future.

Australia’s Clean Energy Project Pipeline

As of the end of 2024, Australia had 59 large-scale generation projects under construction. These totalled 9.9 GW of capacity, a significant rise from 2023's 56 projects and 7.5 GW. The majority of these projects are solar, numbering 39. Wind energy projects follow with 18, complemented by two biomass projects.

Battery Builds Set New Records

Battery construction has seen a sharp uptick as well: 38 large-scale batteries were under construction at the close of 2024. This is an increase from 27 in 2023 and 19 in 2022. Together, these projects will deliver 8.7 GW and 23.3 GWh of storage capacity. The last quarter alone saw more than 1 GWh of batteries come online — an all-time quarterly record.

Key Battery Projects Taking Shape

Notable developments in Q1 2025 include EnergyAustralia’s 350 MW, four-hour Wooreen BESS in Victoria, which is part of the CIS scheme. In Queensland, Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners secured $722 million for its Supernode project. This project will feature 270 MW and 1,356 MWh in the latest tally.

National Battery Projects on the Move

Several significant battery projects are progressing in South Australia. Intera acquired Pacific Green’s 250 MW Limestone Coast North battery. Meanwhile, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has commenced work on the 240 MW Summerfield battery. Also in SA, Amp Energy is advancing the hybrid Bungama BESS, featuring 150 MW and 300 MWh. Meanwhile, Equis Australia’s 250 MW Calala battery has begun construction in NSW.

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In conclusion, Australia is making significant progress towards a cleaner energy future. With massive investments and innovative projects emerging, the nation is on track to enhance its battery energy storage capabilities dramatically. The momentum is strong, and the future looks brighter than ever.