BW ESS acquires 250 MW / 1,000 MWh battery storage project in the Riverina

Construction will begin in late 2026 on the 250 MW / 1,000 MWh Yanco battery energy storage system (BESS), following its acquisition from Melbourne-headquartered clean energy developer ACEnergy by Swiss energy storage owner-operator BW ESS.

Located in the Riverina, New South Wales (NSW) region, approximately 25 kilometres northwest of Narrandera, and southwest of Sydney by around 560 kilometres, the Yanco BESS also sits adjacent to the EnergyCo South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).

Though not in the REZ it is functionally tied to it via a connection to the NSW and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) transmission network manager and operator Transgrid’s 132 kV Yanco substation.

BW ESS Executive Director Andy Hadland said as a long-term owner and operator of energy-storage assets, the company’s priority is to progress the project responsibly, establish strong local relationships and deliver enduring value for the electricity system.

“Australia’s investment in a more flexible and reliable power system creates a compelling role for battery storage, and we are delighted to support that transition through Yanco BESS,” Hadland said.

ACEnergy developed Yanco BESS from origination through to ready-to-build status, securing land, planning approval, grid connection and all key project rights and contracts.

It appointed China-headquartered energy storage technology company CATL as System Integrator for the project and Australian engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) company ACLE Services as Balance of Plant (BoP) contractor.

ACEnergy Managing Director Raymond Wang said financial close on Yanco BESS is a significant milestone for ACEnergy and a strong endorsement of its platform.

“We have taken the project from origination through to ready-to-build, working closely with the local community and stakeholders along the way,” Wang said.

“BW ESS has a strong track record of delivering and operating major energy storage projects, and the capability and resources to realise Yanco’s full potential. We are delighted to partner with them as the project moves into construction and towards long-term operation.”

The addition of Yanco BESS adds to BW ESS’s Australian wholly or jointly-owned project portfolio totalling 1.3 GWh in the commissioning phase, 1 GWh entering construction, and a greenfield pipeline totalling around 2 GW across the NEM.

Once operational, Yanco BESS will have the capacity to supply around 430,000 homes with electricity for 4 hours, providing firming capacity, energy arbitrage and system security services to the National Electricity Market (NEM).