NGS Super spotlight - Waratah Super Battery

Australia’s transition to a low-carbon economy and move away from fossil fuels present significant challenges, especially in maintaining reliable and consistent power supplies through the transition process and beyond.

In NSW, the planned 2025 closure of the black coal-powered Eraring Power Station (owned by Origin) is especially significant. It is Australia’s largest power station, and provides approximately one quarter of NSW’s power requirements.

To ensure reliable energy supply once Eraring has closed, the NSW government is working on the Waratah Super Battery (WSB) project, which will support the grid and act as a ‘shock absorber’ for any sudden power surges, including from bush fires or lightning strikes. This project has been recognised as Critical State Significant Infrastructure.

NGS has invested with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Blackrock Alternatives and other investors to build the Waratah Super Battery in the Hunter Valley in NSW.

The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) that forms the core of the project will be capable of providing a continuous active power capacity of at least 700 MW and a guaranteed useable energy storage capacity of at least 1400 MW. Once built the Waratah Super Battery is expected to be one of the largest BESSs in the world. Excess capacity in its early years is expected to provide extra revenue, helping to keep costs down for NSW consumers.

How it works

Source: https://www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/projects/waratah-super-battery

The site

The WSB project, which officially began construction on 31 May 2023, is being developed on the site of the old (coal-fired) Munmorah Power Station in the Lake Macquarie area south of Newcastle. The removal of the old power station by Liberty Industrial was an incredible project itself, managing to recycle 98% of all waste (a total of 102,392 tonnes of material), and winning the Industrial Demolition Award at the 2019 World Demolition Awards.

This investment supports the following SDGs.

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all	Promoting sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation	Making our communities resilient and sustainable
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns	Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts