Akaysha Energy has officially commenced construction on its $200 million Brendale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Queensland, marking a significant milestone in the state’s renewable energy transition.
The project, one of the largest of its kind in Queensland, will add 205MW / 410MWh of storage capacity to the National Electricity Market (NEM).
The Brendale BESS, slated for commercial operation in 2026, is expected to play a crucial role in reducing electricity costs and enhancing grid stability, aligning with the Queensland government’s ambitious renewable energy targets.
Located on UnityWater’s 3.7-acre site adjacent to the South Pine substation, the central node of Queensland’s electricity grid, the facility will utilise Tesla Megapack technology.
Consolidated Power Projects Australia Pty Ltd (CPP) will be responsible for delivering the Balance of Plant (BoP).
As one of Queensland’s largest batteries, the Brendale BESS will have the capacity to power up to 300,000 homes during a blackout, significantly bolstering the state’s electricity network.
The project is designed to provide energy arbitrage and frequency control ancillary services to support the NEM, while also facilitating the integration of solar and wind projects by leveraging existing transmission infrastructure in the region.
Paul Curnow, Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer at Akaysha Energy, emphasised the project’s importance: “The Brendale BESS is an important element of Akaysha Energy’s portfolio across not only Queensland but the NEM more broadly. Once operational, it will significantly bolster the delivery of a stable supply of energy to the local community.”
The project is expected to create more than 80 jobs during construction, contributing to the local economy and workforce development within the clean energy sector.
It represents one of four projects Akaysha Energy is currently developing in Queensland, underscoring the state’s commitment to the energy transition.
Akaysha Energy, backed by global investment firm BlackRock, has an impressive portfolio of over 10GWh of projects under development across Australia, with 40 per cent concentrated in Queensland.
The company currently has more than 4GWh under construction.
This milestone follows two major financing deals for Akaysha Energy totalling $900 million.
These include a $650 million deal finalised in July for the NSW Orana BESS project and a $250 million debt raise in April to fund the construction costs of the Brendale and Ulinda Park projects in Queensland.
The Brendale BESS project represents a significant step forward in Australia’s renewable energy landscape, promising to enhance grid stability, and energy security, and support the nation’s transition to sustainable energy sources.
