The portfolio includes the Joel Joel and Little River projects in Victoria, each with a capacity of 350 MW/700 MWh, and the Yanco battery project in the Riverina region of NSW, with a capacity of 250 MW/1,000 MWh. Together, these projects are designed to enhance energy reliability and support the transition to cleaner power systems in the region.
Under the agreement, CATL will provide the full scope of services, including design, supply, testing, commissioning, and integration of the BESS. In addition, the company will deliver medium-voltage power stations (MVPS), inverters, power plant controllers (PPC), energy management systems (EMS), and data acquisition and monitoring systems (SCADA). CATL will also ensure that the projects meet all requirements for grid compliance.
ACLE Services will act as the Balance of Plant (BoP) contractor. Its role includes managing civil works and installation, overseeing all on-site construction activities, and ensuring smooth project execution. The collaboration aims to combine CATL’s expertise in energy storage technology with ACEnergy’s project development capabilities to accelerate the rollout of large-scale energy infrastructure.
ACEnergy confirmed that all three projects are shovel-ready. Early site works are expected to begin later this year, laying the groundwork for the next stages of development. The company emphasized that the projects are positioned to support growing demand for large-scale energy storage in Australia, as the country continues to expand renewable energy deployment.
In a statement, ACEnergy noted: “The financial close process is now underway, with construction expected to begin in early 2026 and commercial operation planned for Q4 2027.” The timeline highlights a multi-phase development approach, ensuring that technical, financial, and operational aspects are aligned before full-scale construction begins.
The agreement reflects the increasing importance of energy storage systems in balancing renewable generation and providing stability to the grid. By combining advanced battery technologies with comprehensive integration services, the projects are expected to deliver reliable large-scale storage solutions for the Australian market.
The three projects represent a significant addition to Australia’s energy infrastructure pipeline, providing long-duration storage capacity that can support renewable energy integration, reduce reliance on fossil fuel generation, and improve grid resilience. The collaboration between ACEnergy, CATL, and ACLE Services demonstrates the role of international cooperation in advancing energy transition initiatives.
With work set to progress in stages from 2024 through 2027, the projects are positioned to play a key role in strengthening Australia’s energy system and advancing the development of clean power technologies.
