Next generation technology to strengthen weak link in national grid

Global clean energy enterprise TagEnergy is a step closer to delivering what will be one of the largest battery systems in Australia after gaining funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to build a 300MW/600MWh battery in North Queensland.

TagEnergy’s grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) with advanced inverters that add stability to the grid will form part of the Mount Fox Energy Park in Queensland.

Importantly, TagEnergy’s Mt Fox battery project will accelerate the connection of future renewables in the area – including the Mt Fox wind farm – by helping improve system strength in a relatively weak part of Australia’s grid.

ARENA’s funding decision followed a competitive process that attracted a pool of 54 applicants seeking support for grid scale batteries to be equipped with advanced inverter technology.

The next generation grid-forming technology to be used at Mt Fox BESS will provide essential system services traditionally provided by synchronous generation such as coal and gas to underpin the transition to renewable energy.

“TagEnergy welcomes ARENA’s support as we head towards financial close on what will be one of the largest battery systems in Australia once built,” Andrew Riggs, TagEnergy Managing Partner Australia, said.

“We look forward to continuing to work with ARENA as we continue to innovate and deliver next-gen grid scale battery technology that will further extend Australia’s capabilities around large scale batteries,” Mr Riggs said.

“TagEnergy will apply our proven capabilities in large scale battery storage, including developing multiple BESS projects in the UK, to deliver another important facility supporting Australia’s renewable targets,” he said.

The Mt Fox BESS funding announcement marks another significant step in TagEnergy’s expanding project pipeline in Australia. It comes after TagEnergy announced it had achieved financial close on its 756MW Stage One of its Golden Plains Wind Farm in Victoria in November 2022, with construction to commence in early 2023.

About TagEnergy

TagEnergy is a clean energy enterprise creating competitive clean power stations to accelerate the energy transition and help the world reach net-zero carbon emissions sooner.

Since its formation in 2019, TagEnergy has assembled a portfolio of close to 4GW based on solar, wind and battery storage technologies in the UK, Portugal, Spain, France and Australia. Its first renewable energy project to go online, Hawkers Hill Energy Park battery storage facility in the UK, began operating in 2022.

TagEnergy is controlled by the Impala SAS Group, supported by major investors Mirova and Omnes, and is operated by a team of entrepreneurs, all shareholders. Its operations span the renewables value chain, from development, financing, construction and asset management, to commercialisation of its competitive energy.