EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Construction has begun on the Steel River East BESS of PLUS Grid Storage at Newcastle’s Steel River Industrial Estate. The project will deploy 112 Tesla Megapack 2XL units and is being delivered with SCEE Electrical. Supported by the NSW Government’s Energy Security Corporation, the battery is expected to become operational in late 2027.
Company: PLUS Grid Storage
Project: Steel River East BESS
Location: Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Technology Provider: Tesla
Delivery Partner: SCEE Electrical
Platform Investment: $100 million
Construction Materials: ~2,200 m³ concrete; 200+ tonnes reinforcing steel
Expected Operation: Late 2027
Australia-based energy provider PLUS Grid Storage has started construction of the Steel River East Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Newcastle, New South Wales. An official sod-turning ceremony the start of construction. The development is the company’s first grid-scale battery project. It is also the first of several battery projects in its development pipeline.
The project is located within the Steel River Industrial Estate. It is designed to support the New South Wales electricity network. The BESS will store electricity during periods of lower demand. It will dispatch electricity back to the grid when needed. PLUS Grid Storage said battery storage is becoming increasingly important as more renewable generation enters Australia’s electricity system.
Once completed, the Steel River East BESS will comprise 112 Tesla Megapack 2XL battery units. Each unit measures approximately 8.8 metres long, 1.6 metres deep and 2.7 metres high. Each unit weighs about 38,000 kilograms. According to the company, the fully charged units will collectively contain enough energy to power approximately 27,000 homes for a day.
Construction will require approximately 2,200 cubic metres of concrete. More than 200 tons of reinforcing steel will also be used to support the battery installation.The Steel River East BESS is scheduled to become operational in late 2027.
PLUS Grid Storage is delivering the project in partnership with SCEE Electrical, a subsidiary of SCEE Group. SCEE Electrical will support the delivery of the battery infrastructure. Its work will draw on its electrical, instrumentation, maintenance and communications capabilities.
The Steel River East development is also supported by the NSW Government’s Energy Security Corporation. The support forms part of the corporation’s $100 million investment in PLUS Grid Storage’s battery platform. The wider platform covers Sydney, Newcastle and the Hunter Central Coast.
Steel River East is the first of several battery projects in the company’s development pipelineKelly Wood, Executive in Charge of PLUS Grid Storage
SCEE Electrical Chief Executive Officer Geoff Baudains said the project represents investment in energy infrastructure. He also highlighted the capability of Australian industry to deliver complex energy projects.