Image: Tesla
A massive new Tesla Megapack-powered battery energy storage system (BESS) is now officially online in Victoria, Australia, marking the largest completed battery project on the country’s main grid — and one of the biggest operational grid batteries in the world. The Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub, located in Plumpton in Melbourne’s west, features 444 Tesla Megapacks delivering 600 MW of capacity and 1.6 GWh of storage. That’s enough energy to power 200,000 homes during evening peaks, according to the State Electricity Commission (SEC) of Victoria.
While not the largest battery in Australia — that title currently belongs to Neoen’s massive 560 MW / 2,240 MWh Collie battery in Western Australia — the Hub is now the biggest fully operating BESS connected to the National Electricity Market. It reached the milestone after the Waratah Super Battery in NSW was delayed by transformer issues.
The SEC describes the project as a key piece of infrastructure designed to shift excess solar and wind energy into periods of higher demand. “The Hub will soak up excess wind and solar power during the daytime and shift that energy to the evening peaks when we need it most,” said SEC CEO Chris Miller.
Tesla’s Megapack is the company’s flagship utility-grade storage solution, built for grid-scale deployments that help stabilize demand and smooth out renewable generation. Each Megapack can store significant amounts of energy and discharge it instantly — a capability that has made the product one of the most widely adopted grid batteries globally. Australia remains one of Tesla Energy’s most important markets, with Megapacks powering major BESS installations across the country.
The Hub was delivered on time and on budget, jointly developed by SEC and Equis Australia. “Our engineers designed a world-first underground 500kV cable connecting a BESS into existing gas-insulated grid infrastructure,” said David Russell, Managing Director at Equis Australia. “Our investment team secured a landmark $400m debt package and it has been impressive to watch the project take shape from Notice to Proceed in December 2023, installation of 444 Tesla megapacks and three Toshiba 500kV HV transformers.”
Tesla has been seeing a surge in global demand for its Megapack systems. The company recently won a major order to support Australia’s largest wind farm and secured a record-breaking $2.7 billion Megapack procurement from Georgia Power in the U.S. Even xAI, Elon Musk’s AI startup, is deploying $375 million worth of Megapacks to power its Colossus II supercomputer in Memphis. Tesla also unveiled its next-generation Megapack 3 earlier this year, offering 5 MWh of usable AC energy and a redesigned architecture for faster installation and improved efficiency.
As for Victoria’s newest battery, the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub is expected to play a pivotal role as more coal plants retire and the region transitions to high renewable penetration. With its strategic placement at the junction of several major transmission lines, the system will support multiple clean-energy zones and help improve price stability.
