EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Northern Battery project near Port Augusta has received an Associated Infrastructure Licence from the South Australian Government. The approval follows a recent grid connection milestone and advances the 270 MW battery energy storage project towards construction at the former Northern Power Station site.
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AMPYR Australia, a renewable energy development company involved in utility-scale energy projects, has secured an Associated Infrastructure Licence (AIL) from the South Australian Government for its 270 MW Northern Battery project near Port Augusta. The approval marks a significant development milestone as the company advances the battery energy storage system (BESS) towards construction.
The AIL is the primary South Australian approval required for the construction and operation of Northern Battery. Its receipt allows the project to progress through the next stages of development. AMPYR Australia has not disclosed a construction commencement date or commissioning schedule in its announcement.
The approval follows the project's recent receipt of its 5.3.4A letter. This represents a key milestone in the grid connection process. Together, the two developments demonstrate progress across the project's infrastructure approval and grid connection activities as it moves closer to construction.
Northern Battery will be located at the site of the former Northern Power Station near Port Augusta in South Australia. The project is designed to repurpose existing energy infrastructure at the former power generation site for battery storage development. This approach will enable the location to support a new role in South Australia's electricity system.
The planned 270 MW battery facility is intended to support greater renewable energy integration. By storing electricity and making it available when required, battery energy storage systems can help manage variations in renewable electricity generation and demand. Northern Battery is also expected to contribute to the reliability and resilience of South Australia's electricity network.
AMPYR Australia is developing the project alongside joint development partner Green Gold Energy. The company acknowledged the contributions of its project team, development partner and other stakeholders involved in advancing Northern Battery through the approval process.
The latest milestone follows the grid connection progress already achieved by the project. With the AIL now secured, AMPYR Australia intends to continue the remaining development activities required to move Northern Battery towards construction.
The project represents a planned transition of the former Northern Power Station site from conventional power generation infrastructure to battery energy storage. Its development is intended to support South Australia's increasing integration of renewable electricity while strengthening the electricity system's reliability.
The company has not specified the battery's energy storage capacity in MWh, storage duration, technology supplier, construction timeline or expected commercial operation date in the announcement.
Northern Battery remains in the pre-construction stage, with its infrastructure licence secured and further development activities planned. AMPYR Australia will continue progressing the project with Green Gold Energy and its other project partners as it works towards construction.