Tesla Megapacks Powering Australia’s Largest Grid-Forming Battery Lands Financing

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia will be financing Edify Energy and the latter’s plan to build Australia’s largest approved grid battery, leveraging Tesla Megapacks, according to a press release shared on Tuesday.

Located in Darlington Point outside of Griffith in New South Wales, the system features 150 MW by 300 MWh of energy storage system, split up between three separate partitions.

The partitions include a 60 MW by 120 MWh Riverina Energy Storage System 1 (RESS 1), a 65 MW by 130 MWh Riverina Energy Storage System 2 (RESS 2) and a third 25 MW by 50 MWh Darlington Point Energy Storage System (DPESS).

Executive General Manager and Global Client Solutions Sall Reid said, “CBA is incredibly proud to support Edify Energy to build Australia’s largest grid-forming battery in the Riverina region.”

Reid continued, “This project will play a key role in ensuring that NSW’s greener grid is also stable and reliable. Greening the grid is critical to Australia’s transition to net zero, and CBA is excited to support Edify and Federation in helping advance our critical infrastructure towards that goal with this project.”

The Edify Energy Tesla Megapack system in New South Wales, Australia was announced in March.

Edify Energy Chief executive, John Cole said he is proud of the company’s role as a leader in Australia’s frontline of innovation in the sustainable energy sector.

“We have long been believers of harnessing the full capability of technology. In this instance, we’re using the combination of the dispatchable properties of batteries with a new vintage of grid forming inverter control systems to create a credible substitution to the inherent power system support services provided by thermal synchronous sources of generators,” said Edify Energy Chief executive, John Cole.

“With the widespread adoption of this technology, we’ll be removing the last bastion to any reliance on the incumbent carbon-intensive generation fleet and assist in ushering a 100% renewable future with the confidence of a stable, reliable power system,” added Cole.

It also joins the likes of fellow Australian battery projects, including ones in Queensland and Victoria.