BLT Energy has received development approval from the Regional Development Assessment Panel for its Red Gully Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Western Australia. The project has a total capacity of 800 MW/4,800 MWh of energy storage. Phase 1 of the project will provide up to 400 MW of power and 2,400 MWh of storage capacity to the South West Interconnected System. The project, located adjacent to Western Power’s Regans Terminal, will also complement the development of the Clean Energy Link – North.
There have been many developments in the BESS space in Australia as the country focuses on ensuring grid reliability for large-scale renewable energy integration. For instance, in May 2026, GenusPlus Group Limited secured an engineering, procurement and construction contract for the 200 MW/800 MWh Koolunga battery energy storage system in South Australia from Equis Development Pte Limited. Similarly, in February 2026, NHOA Energy, along with EnergyAustralia and Enerven, announced the official launch of a 245 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Hallett, South Australia.
In early 2026, AEMO Services Limited (ASL), a subsidiary of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), awarded long-term energy service agreements to six battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in New South Wales through Tender Round 6. All six projects are based on lithium-ion battery technology, with nominal storage durations ranging from 8.7 hours to 11.5 hours. The selected projects together account for 1,170 MW of capacity and 11.98 GWh of storage.
Soon after, the results of Tender 7 under the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) were announced. A total of 19 renewable energy projects were selected, delivering 7.8 GW, exceeding the original 5 GW target of capacity. Of which 8 projects are hybrid systems combining wind or solar generation with battery storage.These hybrid projects will add more than 2.0 GW of storage capacity to the electricity grid. The 19 selected projects span multiple states.
REGlobal’s Views: Australia has been ramping its energy storage capacity along with renewables to support grid reliability and growing power demand. This is especially critical as ageing coal power stations retire. Auctions are planned to be conducted regularly from 2024-2027 to drive more investments in the country’s growing renewable energy sector. Moreover, the country has increased the Capacity Investment Scheme target to 26 GW for renewables generation and to 14 GW for clean dispatchable capacity.