Oil giant Shell announced its second major power project in Australia in a week as it revealed plans to co-develop a major battery storage facility in New South Wales.
Shell signed a joint development deal with storage specialist AMPYR Australia to advance the 500MW/1GWh Wellington BESS project that is due to enter construction next year and will be run by the supermajor's Shell Energy unit.
The Wellington project – which would be among the largest in the Australian state – will “complement nearby existing renewable energy generation assets” and help smooth the path of extra green capacity onto the network in an area with 3GW of wind and solar operating or in development, the partners said.
Getting Australia’s grid in shape to receive large amounts of new green generation is a key priority for the nation as it prepares to shift away from its reliance on fossil fuels.
The Wellington project is the second big Australian renewables-focused project this week to be unveiled by Shell.
The UK-based oil giant earlier revealed it has joined investor Foresight in a swoop for the 375MW Kondinin Energy project in Western Australia, acquiring development rights from local player Lacour and Chinese wind giant Goldwind.
Kondinin plans to deploy up to 235MW of wind, 80MW of solar and 60MW/120MWh of battery storage at its site about 250km east of Perth. A first 121MW wind phase is due for construction in 2024 once a final investment decision is made.
Shell has reportedly earmarked Australia as a key market for its growing renewables and green energy operations. The UK-based supermajor made its first wind power investment in Australia in March by taking a 49% share in local player WestWind Energy.
Shell’s global renewables strategy has seen it make significant moves into offshore wind – including floating, where it is involved in several pioneering technology and project ventures – as well as making acquisitions such as this year’s $1.55bn deal for Sprng Energy, one of India’s fastest-growing wind and solar developer and operators.
