The project is Africa’s first and largest standalone dispatchable BESS.
By the end of 2024, construction of large-scale battery projects had increased notably, with 8.7GW/23.3GWh underway, compared to 5GW/12GWh in 2023. The largest battery energy storage system (BESS) project to secure funding in Q1 2025 was in Wooreen, Victoria, with a capacity of 350 megawatts (MW) and an output of 1.4GWh. South Australia led in total capacity, with projects amounting to 640MW/1.8GWh.
Clean Energy Council chief policy and impact officer Arron Wood stated: “Energy storage systems, such as big batteries, are a critical part of Australia’s future energy mix and act as a reliable back-up system allowing us to store renewable energy for when it is needed most and keep the lights on under all conditions. It’s great to see the high levels of investment we’ve seen over the past couple of years continue.”
Additionally, three battery storage projects began construction in Q1 2025, contributing 840MW/2.9GWh to capacity and output. In contrast, renewable energy generation projects progressed more slowly, with only two projects—AMP Energy’s Bungama Solar Farm in South Australia and European Energy’s Lancaster Solar Farm in Victoria—reaching financial close. These projects, totaling 386MW, attracted A$410 million in investment.
In 2024, renewable energy generation capacity reached 5.2GW, with 3.2GW from rooftop solar, a slight increase from 2023. Investment in renewable generation projects surged, with A$9 billion committed in 2024, a 500% rise from A$1.5 billion in 2023, marking the highest financial commitment to large-scale generation since 2018.
The report noted 82 renewable electricity generation projects either financially committed or under construction by the end of 2024, representing 12.5GW of capacity. Additionally, 69 storage projects were committed, equivalent to 12.5GW in capacity and 32.1GWh in output. Renewables accounted for 40% of Australia’s electricity in 2024, with fossil fuels contributing the remaining 60%.
