First big battery built on an Australian former coal-fired power station site in Victoria’s Latrobe region

After the Hazelwood Power Station in the Latrobe Valley closed in 2017, energy provider ENGIE began repurposing the site and built the Hazelwood Battery Energy Storage System (HBESS). This is the first big battery to be built on an Australian coal site. The battery was successfully commissioned in June 2023 and has been in operation for over 2 years, supporting grid reliability in Victoria. 

The 150 MW/150 Mwh battery has the capacity to store the equivalent of an hour of energy generated from the rooftop solar systems of 30,000 homes. It can send extra electricity into the grid in times of peak demand or store electricity that is not being used in times of low demand. 

The battery’s innovative design and the site’s unique location provides the ability to scale market demand. It can also increase storage capacity quickly and in a cost-effective way to respond to network and market demand. 

Battery storage, particularly in Latrobe and the broader Gippsland region, serves an important role in accelerating the build-out of solar and wind resources. By capturing excess power during periods of high energy generation and discharging to meet peak demand, the HBESS provides critical stability to the grid. 

An ENGIE spokesperson said:

With its location, situation and access to transmission, the Hazelwood site is the perfect location for BESS operation and expansion. The Hazelwood BESS is a tangible example of Australia’s energy transition as we move away from coal and toward clean energy technologies.

The Hazelwood Battery Energy Storage System is one example of how the Latrobe Valley and broader Gippsland region are adapting to changes in Australia's energy sector. To learn more about local projects, industries, and opportunities shaping the region's future, explore our Latrobe region page.