July 2024

Australian renewable energy developer, ACE Power, has announced plans to develop a state-significant renewable energy ‘hub’ near Uralla. The Project will be a key part of ACE’s efforts to accelerate the transition of Australia’s electricity network with clean, reliable energy.

The Hillview Energy Hub Project would be developed progressively, with the initial development of a 1,000 MW Battery Energy Storage System to be followed by a proposed 250–300 MW solar farm and a 200–300 MW wind farm, to be developed later, in time to meet the needs of the growing National Electricity Market. The scoping reports for both the Eastern Hub Firming Battery and the Hillview Solar were submitted in late May to the Department of Planning, Housing & Infrastructure and are available to read on the planning portal.

Depending on identified site constraints and market conditions, the Eastern Hub Firming Battery project could be sized up to 1,000 MW with around four hours of energy storage (4,000 MWh), helping to improve diversity and reliability within the NSW electricity network.

Four local landholders have partnered with ACE Power for the initial battery and solar farm development – providing access to their land in return for annual, long-term lease payments, an attractive option for these farming families to diversify their income.

The Project is planned to be located nearby to the proposed EnergyCo Eastern Hub Substation which is planned as part of the New England Renewable Energy Zone buildout. ACE Power is working closely with EnergyCo on coordinating the project to ensure it can deliver the maximum value to the energy market and consumers, while balancing environmental and social considerations.

Managing Director, Andy Scullion, said “development of the Hillview Energy Hub will bring significant investment to the New England community. It will provide additional high-value renewable energy generation and firming capacity to support the ongoing creation of this key Renewable Energy Zone,”.

While each stage of the Hillview Energy Hub will be developed in sequence, ACE Power hopes it will gain important synergies through the co-location of renewable energy assets on the one site – including minimising overhead transmission lines, employing more local workers and supplying businesses over a longer term and delivering greater community benefits.

The New England REZ is expected to deliver up to 8 GW of new transmission capacity, providing opportunities to increase NSW’s energy resilience and contributing to the State’s zero emissions targets.

The Eastern Hub Firming Battery would be one of a number of battery projects under development in Australia by ACE Power.