Australia’s largest BESS commissioned
Western Australia is steadily becoming one of the world’s most dynamic laboratories for energy transition. French renewable energy developer Neoen has just commissioned Australia’s largest battery with 341 MW of power and 1.36 GWh of capacity. At the same time, it has begun construction of the country’s first six-hour energy storage system.
Collie Battery goes live
The Collie Battery project was first announced over two years ago. Today, it has officially been completed and is the largest battery in the country. The investment was carried out in two stages, with a combined power of 560 MW and capacity of 2.24 GWh, capable of covering up to 20% of average demand on the South-West Interconnected System (SWIS) at any one time. This is critical infrastructure, designed to balance risks from retiring coal plants, the rapid growth of rooftop solar installations, and rising electricity demand.
The second stage of Collie (341 MW / 1.36 GWh) was commissioned four months ahead of schedule, demonstrating Neoen’s ability to deliver large-scale projects quickly. Since October 1, 2025, the system has been operating as a solar soaker — absorbing excess PV energy during the day and releasing it to the grid during evening peaks.
In Australia, such solutions have a systemic impact, enabling further integration of renewable energy while maintaining grid stability, which has historically relied heavily on coal and gas.
Muchea Battery – Australia’s first six-hour battery
In parallel, Neoen has begun construction of Muchea Battery (164 MW / 905 MWh), located 43 km northeast of Perth. This will be Australia’s first six-hour energy storage system. The next-generation BESS will significantly increase market flexibility.
The battery will be built using 252 Tesla Megapack 2XL units and connected to the existing Muchea substation on the SWIS grid. The project received support under the federal Capacity Investment Scheme, marking it as a key investment for national energy security.
Construction will create 70 jobs and provide over AUD 2 million in benefit-sharing for local communities and First Nations, illustrating how new renewable projects are increasingly tied to community compensation and shared benefits.
Narrogin Wind Farm – wind in the Wheatbelt and local engagement challenges
Alongside energy storage, Neoen is also developing wind projects. The latest is Narrogin Wind Farm, a 200 MW project that has obtained critical environmental and planning approvals.
The AUD 650 million investment will include 23 turbines at a height of 291 m (reduced from the original 28). The project also allows for potential expansion with a 100 MW / 200 MWh battery storage system.
While formally approved, the project faced community protests concerning noise, visual impact, and insufficient consideration of local energy policies. Some local councils requested linking the project to a mandatory community benefits fund. Ultimately, the planning panel did not impose this requirement but recommended establishing a voluntary fund of AUD 225,000.
Western Australia – from coal to a global energy transition laboratory
For decades, Western Australia relied on coal and gas for its energy mix. Today, under climate pressure and coal plant retirements, the region is becoming a hub for large-scale and innovative energy storage projects and renewable integration.
Spending on the Collie and Muchea batteries, with a combined capacity of over 3 GWh, has raised energy infrastructure investment above AUD 1 billion. This is one of the largest programs of its kind globally relative to the local market, as SWIS serves only about 2.3 million people.
Recognizing the challenges of integrating large amounts of rooftop PV and planned coal phase-out by the end of the decade, Western Australian authorities have adopted a new transmission plan to enable the connection of 2.5 GW of new renewable capacity.