AGL has begun commissioning its 500MW, two-hour grid-scale Liddell Battery, marking a major step in the site’s transition from coal to clean energy.
Construction of the battery, located adjacent to the former Liddell Power Station in NSW, is now complete.
Commissioning of the first 250MW is underway, with the project expected to reach full commercial operations by June 2026.
The commissioning phase involves staged testing of battery performance, grid integration and dispatch capability to ensure the system operates safely and reliably within the National Electricity Market.
“In April 2023 we closed Liddell Power Station after 50 years of operation with a celebration of the people of Liddell and the contribution that the power station made to the Hunter region and Australia’s energy system,” AGL Managing Director and CEO, Damien Nicks said.
“This battery will deliver important firming storage for the energy system which is increasingly needed as coal exits the market, and the percentage of renewable generation increases.”
Once operational, the Liddell Battery will provide large-scale storage capacity and support system stability, helping balance supply and demand as more variable renewable energy enters the grid.
The project will join AGL’s growing portfolio of grid-scale storage assets, including the Torrens Island, Broken Hill and Tomago batteries.
“Careful testing of dispatch into the grid and integration into AGL’s portfolio will continue over the coming months to ensure the system operates safely and in line with market requirements,” AGL Chief Operations and Construction Officer, Matthew Currie said.
More than 600 workers contributed to the construction and commissioning of the project, delivered in partnership with Fluence Energy.
The Liddell Battery has been supported by a $35 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and a Long-Term Energy Service Agreement under the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.
AGL is continuing to progress plans for the broader transformation of the Liddell site into an integrated energy hub, with future opportunities under consideration including materials recovery and recycling, low-carbon fuels and data centres.
