Italian energy giant Enel Green Power says it has received connection approval for what it is describing as the “very first” solar and battery hybrid project in Australia.
The approval was granted for an unidentified 96MW solar farm and a 20MW battery in the central west of NSW, in the middle of the newly declared Central West Orana renewable energy zone.
There are several examples of co-located solar and battery storage projects in Australia, including the Gannawarra solar farm and battery projects in Victoria (pictured above), but Enel Green Power says this is the first to share the same connection point.
There were no further details – of the name or even the exact location, or the storage capacity of the 20MW battery. Enel Green Power says constructed is expected to commence construction in mid-2023. It would not comment further.
Enel Green Power has already completed three large scale solar farms in Australia, including the Bungala 1 and 2 projects in South Australia (110MW each), and the small 27MW Cohuna solar farm in Victoria. It recently bought the 75MW Flat Rocks wind project in Western Australia that will supply BHP Nickel.
