Insights

FRV Australia awarded a conditional funding from ARENA to support the construction of the Gnarwarre 250MW Battery project

Published 19 December, 2022
  • FRV Australia Gnarwarre BESS project will be built in Gnarwarre, Victoria and will accelerate the clean energy transition in Australia and ensure energy security and supply stability.
  • The project is a lithium-ion battery energy storage system with a capacity of 250MW and is using grid-forming inverters
  • ARENA announced that Gnarwarre is awarded a conditional funding under the Large-Scale Battery Storage Round was launched in December 2021

Sydney, December 19th 2022

Leading developer of sustainable energy solutions, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures Australia, as part of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy and Canadian infrastructure fund OMERS, will install a 250MW lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) using innovative grid forming inverters in Gnarwarre. ARENA (Australian Renewable Energy Agency) has announced that Gnarwarre BESS is a selected project to receive a conditional funding under the Large-Scale Battery Storage Round was launched at the end of 2021.

Located in Gnarwarre, Victoria, the project, initially developed by ACE Energy and acquired by FRV in 2021, will be the largest FRV Australia’s standalone battery. Once in construction it is expected to support up to 50 jobs with a positive impact on the local economy.

Earlier this year, FRV Australia received support for another large BESS project in Victoria, the Terang project with a capacity 100MW which received AUD 7M under Round 2 of the Victorian Government Energy Innovation Fund (EIF). The project grid-forming inverter technology will provide essential system stability services traditionally provided by synchronous generation such coal and gas.

Gnarwarre BESS will contribute to FRV Australia’s solar and battery portfolio expansion in line with the company’s mission to support the country’s clean energy mandate. The company has delivered almost 800 MWdc of operational PV assets across 9 projects in Australia for a total project investment value of over 1 billion dollars.

 

We are honoured to be selected by ARENA in this Large-Scale Battery Storage Round. This brings back good memories of almost a decade ago when FRV received support from ARENA to build the 56MW Moree solar farm which is one of the first operating large-scale solar farms in the country. Since then, we continued to play a key role in the country’s renewable energy transition.
Carlo Frigerio
FRV Australia Managing Director

 

The Large Scale Battery Storage Round was launched in December 2021 with an initial funding envelope of $100 million which was then expanded by the Australian Government later in the year.

 

Battery storage is an essential technology in the transition to renewable energy, allowing us smooth out variable generation and store electricity for when it’s needed.
Darren Miller
ARENA CEO

 

 

Australia continues to be a key and promising market for renewable energy investments. This project illustrates how battery energy storage is an increasingly viable options towards a more sustainable future for all, which we are proud to be leading in. Implementing such a large-scale project is a testament to our commitment to delivering clean energy solutions on a global scale, and we are delighted to take part in the country’s ongoing sustainable energy transformation.
Fady Jameel
Deputy Chairman and Vice Chairman of Abdul Latif Jameel

 

BESS