Belhaven BESS
| Project Name | Belhaven BESS |
| Technology | Battery Energy Storage System |
| Capacity | 400 MW |
| Project Size | 10ha |
| Location | Wagga Wagga, New South Wales |
| Targeted Construction Date | Q1 2025 |
SECTIONS
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Belhaven Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is a 400 MW battery and associated infrastructure, capable of storing 2 hours of electricity, providing 800 MWh of storage capacity to the National Electricity Market.
The Belhaven BESS is located around 7 kilometres south of Wagga Wagga, within the Wagga Wagga City Council local government area. The site’s location within the Riverina Region is ideally placed to assist in meeting the energy generation and storage requirements for New South Wales. The Belhaven BESS represents a positive outcome for the Riverina Murray Regional Plan 2041, which seeks integrated and resilient utility infrastructure, by contributing to the required energy storage infrastructure to support the State’s transition to net zero by 2050.
The project area provides a strong point of connection to the transmission network with the existing 330 kilovolt Transgrid substation located within 1.4km of the site, making it an ideal site to provide stability to the New South Wales electricity grid, providing backup power during network interruptions, with minimal requirements for additional transmission infrastructure. It will also provide positive outcomes for the communities associated with the project, through the provision of significant economic stimulus to the region through construction jobs, supplier contracts, and associated flow-on benefits to local businesses.
There is a need for storage within the network as security and reliability become increasingly important aspects in the transition to renewable energy generation. The intermittent nature of wind and solar resources creates the need for ‘back-up’ capacity to support any supply gaps. The Integrated System Plan 2022 suggests a need for 46 GW or the equivalent of 640 GWh of dispatchable storage capacity is needed by 2050. The Australian Energy Market Operator has identified that storage capacity needs to triple within the National Energy Market to meet electricity demands, while the New South Wales Electricity Roadmap forecasts an additional 2.3 GW of energy storage is needed to maintain system security and reliability.
Project History
Planning Process
The Project is a State Significant Development and an Environmental Impact Statement is required to be assessed under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (1979). Vena Energy Australia has lodged the Scoping Report for the Belhaven BESS and received the Secretary’s Environment Assessment Requirements for the Environmental Impact Statement in May 2023. The Project Team are currently progressing the investigations to support the Environmental Impact Statement as they undertake the assessments described in the Project SEARs, as shown below.
A suite of guidelines has been developed for State Significant Development projects by the Department of Planning and Environment to detail the assessment process and expectations for the environmental assessment documentation.
All current State Significant Applications can be found on the Department’s Major Project Portal, which provides a platform to gain an insight into the status of the assessment process, access all relevant assessment materials for the Development Applications, and contact details for the Department’s assessment officer.
The assessment materials for the Belhaven BESS are accessible on the Major Project Portal, here.
Engagement
Vena Energy Australia is committed to ongoing and genuine engagement with the local community of Wagga Wagga and our Project stakeholders to build strong relationships and establish a socially sustainable project.
The Project’s engagement activities will be undertaken in accordance with Vena Energy’s Engagement Principles, with the aim to facilitate the Project’s social licence to operate. The engagement will be:
- Purposeful & of Value;
- All-Inclusive & Accessible;
- Comprehensive & Robust;
- Genuine & Equitable; and
- Creative & Innovative.
We will continue to engage with neighbours and broaden the consultation effort to capture the wider community and interested stakeholders throughout the preparation stage of the Environmental Impact Statement. The Project team will be in a position to share more detailed information following the completion of the required assessments and investigations over the coming months.
Consultation during the next phase of the assessment process will aim to:
- Consult proactively with stakeholders using clear and consistent key messages;
- Continue to engage with key stakeholders to identify potential issues and opportunities;
- Communicate the progress of the project and key findings or outcomes of assessments;
- Enable stakeholders to have input into the preparation of the EIS, project planning and investigate opportunities for benefit sharing; and
- Implement response and feedback strategies to address stakeholder concerns and use these to inform the evolution of the project.
Vena Energy Australia has engaged EMM Consulting Pty Ltd to undertake the environmental, social and other technical studies required as part of preparing the Environmental Impact Statement.
To this end, we encourage you to make contact at any time using the contact methods listed below or register your information and highlight your interest in receiving project updates or to participate in the engagement activities, including the Social Impact Assessment, by completing the online form or scan the following QR code.
Benefits
As an emerging leader in sustainable energy development in Australia, Vena Energy Australia understands that our long-term success goes hand-in-hand with enhancing the broader well-being of the communities and regions in which we operate. Vena Energy Australia looks forward to making a positive contribution to the local community, the region’s economy, and the nation’s transition to renewable energy.
The Project provides an opportunity to increase the storage capacity within New South Wales, which is aligned with the Market Operators recommendation that the installed storage capacity will need to triple to meet electricity needs, assisting New South Wales meet energy demands and improving energy security and stability for the State. The BESS will provide both storage as well as firming capacity to the NEM and will assist with grid stability by providing frequency control ancillary services. The BESS will contribute to New South Wales’ net-zero emissions target, deliver on commitments in the Australian Government’s Renewable Energy Target Scheme, and ultimately support the Nation’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Vena Energy Australia supports a local procurement policy and will promote participation from local, regional, and Australian suppliers wherever possible. Local purchasing is likely to include a wide range of products and services from fencing contractors, concreters, welders, electricians, plant and equipment operators, transport contractors, and administrators.
Construction is expected to take approximately 12 months and would likely require approximately 60 construction workers during peak periods. Closer to construction, Vena Energy will provide the community with an invitation to express interest in employment opportunities and the provision of construction and maintenance services, to maximise the local workforce onsite.
During operations, the project would likely operate unmanned on a day-to-day basis. Approximately 6 to 10 staff will be required on a part-time basis to undertake electrical maintenance, site management and administration, environmental services, weed control, fire management, and site security.
News
News and mentions relevant to the Belhaven BESS will be posted here, such as news articles or future stakeholder events or activities.
Feedback
Vena Energy Australia is committed to delivering world class renewable energy projects that better serve the interests of our communities and stakeholders.
Further to this commitment, we take pride in keeping an open ear, so we invite you to get in touch if you have any feedback or require additional Project information, please contact us via the platforms below.
Belhaven BESS Team
Phone: 1800 841 229
Email: belhaven.mailbox@venaenergy.com
Feedback Form: here or via the QR code
