NSW approves Mt Piper battery project

The New South Wales (NSW) government has approved the A$1bn ($647m) Mt Piper Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project by EnergyAustralia. 

With a capacity of 500MW/2,000MWh, the facility will store surplus grid energy during low-demand periods and release it when demand is high. 

EnergyAustralia will invest up to A$2m ($1.2m) in Lithgow City through a voluntary planning agreement. The project is expected to create 177 jobs during its construction and use existing electricity infrastructure near Lithgow to stabilize the energy supply in the state.

NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully highlighted the project’s significance, noting its role in enhancing energy security and transitioning to renewable energy. He stated that the initiative represents a sustainable and dependable future for energy in NSW.

In a parallel development, AGL Energy received approval in November 2024 for the A$1bn Tomago BESS in Newcastle, designed to power 200,000 homes during peak demand.