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Hazelwood BESS

Accelerating the energy transition.

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Hazelwood is the first retired coal-fired power station to host a battery energy storage system in Australia.

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Project overview

Coal-fired to battery-powered. This phrase encapsulates the historic significance of the Hazelwood Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the Latrobe Valley of Victoria, Australia. Hazelwood BESS represents a key moment in repurposing former thermal assets for renewable energy technologies.

The 150 MW / 150 MWh BESS has been jointly funded and developed by ENGIE and Eku Energy. Fluence supplies, operates, and maintains the facility for the partnership, which plays a critical role in increasing renewable energy capacity in Victoria while delivering essential system services to the grid.

Watch this short video and learn about what a BESS does and how batteries support the NEM. The project team behind Hazelwood BESS explains how they turned a former coal-fired power station into one of the first BESS sites in Australia.

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Key Facts

Australia
Latrobe Valley in Gippsland, Victoria
Storage capactiy -
150 MW / 150 MWh
Current status -
Operational
Since
June 2023

Partners

Engie
Fluence

Acknowledgement
of Country

Eku Energy respectfully acknowledge the Gunaikurnai People, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which the Hazelwood BESS will store energy. We pay our respects to elders, past and present. We acknowledge and respect their culture, beliefs, contributions, and spiritual and historic connection with the land.

Project timeline

Current Status
1. Development

The site is selected and we are engaging with the local community to introduce the project and gather feedback before lodging all required studies for Development Approval (DA) by local councils and regulatory bodies.

Current Status
2. Pre-Construction and Financial Close

Once the Development Approval (DA) is received, we negotiate contracts with suppliers and offtakers, and secure financing of the project  ahead of financial close.

Current Status
3. Construction

We mobilise to site for ground-breaking and start building the project.

Current Status
4. Operations

Now the BESS is ready to deliver additional storage capacity to the grid and is managed by a team to ensure it operates as intended.

Current Status
5. Decommissioning

After 20+ years of its intended operational life, the BESS is decommissioned and the site is restored.

Hazelwood

FAQs

If you would like to find out more about what a battery energy storage system is and how they work click here

Project images

Ground breaking event
Construction
Construction of Hazelwood BESS encapsulated the symbolism of turning something old into something that will shape the future.
Commissioning
On June 14, 2023, Hazelwood was officially commissioned by Hon Minister D'Ambrosio.
Finished site
The dawn of a new era: Hazelwood BESS is not only the first repurposed coal-fired power station but also Eku Energy's first BESS globally.

Videos

The demolotion of the former Hazelwood coal-fired power station occured in mid 2016, paving the way for a new energy future.

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Latest news
and media releases

Media release
Historic moment in Australia’s energy transition as Hazelwood Battery Energy Storage System is commissioned
Australia
,
Victoria
14/6/2023

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Hazelwood BESS

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