Neoen, a global renewable energy producer, has successfully launched its Collie Battery Stage 1 in Western Australia, commencing operations ahead of schedule.

The 219 MW / 877 MWh battery storage facility, currently the largest in the state, began delivering grid reliability services to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) on October 1, 2024.

Located near the town of Collie on Wilman country of the Bibbulmun nation, the battery was completed in less than 18 months from the start of construction.

It marks Neoen’s first asset connected to the South-West Interconnected System (SWIS).

The battery is operating under a two-year ‘Non-Co-optimised Essential System Services’ (NCESS) contract with AEMO, providing 197 MW of storage capacity for four hours.

This service aims to address risks associated with the retirement of coal-fired power plants and the increasing penetration of rooftop solar in Western Australia.

Jean-Christophe Cheylus, Neoen Australia’s CEO, expressed pride in delivering the state’s largest battery in record time, acknowledging the collaborative efforts of Western Power, Tesla, UGL, AEMO, and the Western Australian Government.

Western Australia’s Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Reece Whitby, emphasised the battery’s role in supporting household rooftop solar investments and the state’s transition to clean energy.

Collie Battery Stage 2, sized at 341 MW / 1,363 MWh, is currently under construction and expected to be operational by Q4 2025.

This expansion is supported by a second AEMO contract for 300 MW / 4-hour capacity.

Once both stages are complete, the Collie Battery will have a total capacity of 560 MW / 2,240 MWh, capable of charging and discharging 20 per cent of the average demand in the SWIS.

This project underscores Neoen’s commitment to Australia’s renewable energy transition, with the company’s storage portfolio in the country now reaching 1,925 MW / 4,709 MWh in operation or under construction.