Akaysha Energy has brought its 205 megawatt / 410 megawatt-hour Brendale BESS (battery energy storage system) into operation almost five months ahead of schedule. This will strengthen the grid reliability of South East Queensland and support the state’s growing renewable energy fleet.
Located in Brisbane’s outer northern suburbs, the Brendale BESS is directly connected to the South Pine substation, providing fast-acting support to the NEM (National Electricity Market). The project is designed to help smooth supply fluctuations, improve system stability and enable greater integration of variable renewable generation across the region.
The large-scale battery plays a key role in Queensland’s energy transition, delivering flexible storage capacity that can respond rapidly to changes in demand and supply. By charging when renewable generation is abundant and discharging during peak periods, the Brendale BESS supports more affordable and reliable electricity for households and businesses.
Commercially, the project’s revenue is underpinned by a long-term battery revenue swap with Gunvor Group. The arrangement balances contracted and merchant exposure, while allowing Akaysha Energy to optimise operations across both energy and frequency control ancillary services markets.
From a technical perspective, the BESS features grid-forming capability using Tesla Megapack 2 battery units. This capability enhances network voltage strength and contributes to the resilience of nearby major transmission infrastructure, an increasingly important function as thermal generation retires and renewable penetration rises.
“Bringing the Brendale BESS online early is a major achievement for the entire team,” said Nick Carter, Chief Executive Officer at Akaysha Energy.
In completing the project ahead of time, Carter also acknowledged the contribution of key project partners, including Consolidated Power Projects Australia, Tesla, Wilson Transformer Company, Powerlink and Gunvor Group,
“The capability of the system, combined with the Gunvor offtake agreement, will help ensure consumers have access to reliable energy when they need it, at an affordable price,” Carter said.
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