Hochtief subsidiary wins deal to start building one of world’s biggest batteries in Australia

Neoen’s Hornsdale battery energy storage system (BESS) under construction in Hornsdale, South Australia (Image: Neoen)

UGL, a subsidiary of contractor giant Hochtief, has won a deal with French clean energy company Neoen to start constructing one of the world’s biggest batteries.

The company will design and build stage one of Collie Battery, a 219MW/877MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Western Australia.

It will be responsible for the design, construction, testing and commissioning of the 33/330kV substation, the installation of the Tesla2 XL Megapacks, and the associated balance of plant infrastructure.

UGL will also replace an existing bridge and build an access track to the site.

The Collie Battery will provide up to four hours of energy storage and will connect to Western Power’s substation, which is part of the South-West Interconnected System (SWIS).

Collie, a town south of Perth, is home to Western Australia’s coal-fired power industry.

The new battery is the first in a series of stages that will eventually create a battery storage system with a capacity of 1GW.

The cost of the entire project once complete is thought to cost around AUS$2 billion (US$1.4 billion).

Work on the first phase is due for completion in late 2024.

UGL managing director Doug Moss said: “The Collie Battery will be UGL’s sixth BESS project in recent years, and our third for Neoen following the successful design and construction of the Victorian Big Battery and the Western Downs Battery which is currently under construction. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Neoen and Tesla through the Collie Battery project.”