Image credit: Akaysha Energy

The Waratah Super Battery, one of the largest battery energy storage systems in Australia, has suffered a catastrophic transformer failure, delaying its full commissioning until 2026. The 850 MW, 1,680 MWh facility, operated by Akaysha Energy at Munmorah, New South Wales, encountered the failure during final “hold point” testing.

According to Akaysha Energy, one of the three transformers is beyond repair, while a second has also shown issues, complicating the timeline for reaching full capacity. Despite this, the battery continues to provide interim System Integrity Protection Scheme (SIPS) services at 350 MW, supporting the stability of the NSW electricity grid.

The Waratah Super Battery is designed to act as a “shock absorber” for transmission lines feeding Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong. Full capacity operation would allow it to deliver up to 700 MW and 1,400 MWh for SIPS, with additional capacity traded in the electricity market.

Originally scheduled to be fully operational before the planned closure of the 2.88 GW Eraring coal generator, the delay now extends the timeline by at least a year. The incident is expected to impact Akaysha Energy’s revenue from both grid services and market trading, though the company maintains that there is currently no immediate risk to grid stability.

The Waratah Super Battery remains a flagship project in New South Wales’ renewable energy infrastructure, aiming to replace ageing coal assets and strengthen the grid ahead of future energy transitions.

Source: reneweconomy.com