Akaysha Energy completes first stage of WSB project in NSW
Akaysha Energy has completed the first stage of energisation at the Waratah Substation Battery (WSB) project in New South Wales (NSW), marking its registration on Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM). The 850MW/1.68GWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is set to be the largest standby network battery in the southern hemisphere and the world’s most powerful battery.
Developed in partnership with EnergyCo, Transgrid, Powin, and eks Energy, the WSB project will act as a “shock absorber” for the NSW grid, stabilising power during surges or grid instability events. Connected through Transgrid’s Munmorah Substation, the BESS is scheduled for full operation by 2025 with a guaranteed continuous power capacity of 700MW and a usable energy storage capacity of 1.4GWh.
The project is a key milestone in securing NSW’s energy future, especially as four of the state’s five coal-fired power stations are scheduled to close by 2035. It was designated as Critical State Significant Infrastructure and a Priority Transmission Infrastructure Project by the NSW government to ensure energy security for Sydney, Wollongong, and Newcastle.
The WSB project is part of the broader push in Australia to expand renewable energy infrastructure, underpinned by the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020, which aims to attract $32 billion in private sector investment by 2030. This is in line with Australia’s goal of increasing national storage capacity to 22GW by 2030, with projections suggesting at least 49GW will be needed by 2050 to reach net-zero emissions.
Akaysha’s energy storage portfolio in Australia now exceeds 4GWh, solidifying its role in the country’s renewable energy transition. The WSB project, supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), is part of a larger trend that has seen energy arbitrage revenues for BESS grow by 97% year-on-year to A$25.4 million in 2024.
Australia continues to lead the world in BESS development, though its reliance on exporting raw lithium to China remains a challenge for the nation’s battery supply chain. ARENA is focusing on commercialising long-duration storage to support the country’s renewable energy ambitions.