BW ESS’ McCullys Gap Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project has been lodged for assessment under the Environmental Act.
The project proposes to develop a 400-megawatt (MW) BESS with four hours of storage near Muswellbrook in the Upper Hunter Region of New South Wales.
BW ESS is a global energy storage owner-operator with a pipeline of over 7 gigawatts (GW) across the UK, Australia, Italy, Germany and Sweden, with over 1GWh of projects currently in construction.
If all approvals are secured, BW ESS plans to begin construction in 2027. The project would take approximately 18 months to complete.
McCullys BESS is expected to operate for at least 30 years.
BW ESS envisions the project as a means to enhance the security and reliability of the electrical network in New South Wales. McCullys will provide additional energy storage, which can be delivered on demand to quickly stabilise the electricity system and reliably meet peak energy demand.
The project will also support the ongoing development of renewable energy projects in the region and support industry diversity and growth of the energy sector.
BW ESS also noted that the use of the site as a BESS facility is not anticipated to have a significant detrimental impact on the operation of other businesses in the area.
The BESS facility will operate through sophisticated remote monitoring systems, requiring only monthly maintenance visits.
This automated approach is expected to ensure efficient operation with minimal local traffic and disruption.