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Operations

Liddell Battery

The Liddell Battery is a 500 MW, two-hour duration, grid scale battery at AGL’s Hunter Energy Hub in NSW.

Rendered image of what Liddell battery could look like

About the project

The Liddell Battery is a 500 MW, two-hour duration, grid scale battery located on the former Liddell Power Station site.

Construction of the battery is complete, with commissioning of the first 250 MW underway, and the battery expected to slowly ramp up to full commercial operations by June 2026. Significant targets were set around the employment of apprentices and local procurement – with locally sourced steel used for construction such as fences and steel rods in concrete and a First Nations business involved in construction. More than 600 workers have contributed to the construction and commissioning of the battery. 

The total construction cost was approximately $750 million, with Fluence as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor. Transgrid has constructed and operates a 330/33kV battery substation, and~450mtrs of 330kV overhead transmission line and an extension to the existing 330kV switch yard.

The project is supported by both a $35 million grant awarded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of its Advancing Renewables Program and a Long-Term Energy Service Agreement (LTESA), arranged by AEMO Services on behalf of the NSW Government.

Liddell Battery Project update

An important milestone has been reached at our Hunter Energy Hub, where commissioning is underway on our 500 MW Liddell Battery. 

The Liddell Battery joins our existing suite of grid-scale battery assets including our 250 MW Torrens Island Battery and 50 MW Broken Hill Battery. 

Project overview and purpose

AGL is progressing plans to facilitate the efficient, safe and reliable continuation of electricity generating works from Bayswater and the Liddell site. The Project consists of the following stages:

Stage 1 - Completed January 2024
  • Decoupling works: Alternative network connection arrangements for the Liddell 33 kilovolt (kV) switching station that provides electricity to infrastructure required for the ongoing operation of Bayswater and associated ancillary infrastructure and potential third-party industrial energy users. More information.
     
Stage 2 - Commenced October 2023
  • The Battery: A grid connected Battery Energy Storage System with capacity of up to 500 MW and 2 GWh
  • Bayswater Ancillary Works (BAW): Works associated with the ongoing operation of Bayswater which includes (but is not limited to), upgrades to ancillary infrastructure such as pumps, pipelines, conveyor systems, roads and assets to enable maintenance, repairs, replacement, expansion or demolition. More information.
  • Consolidated consents: A modern consolidated consent for the continued operation of Bayswater through the voluntary surrender and consolidation into this application of various existing development approvals required for the ongoing operation of AGLM assets.
  • Demolition: Removal of redundant solar thermal plant infrastructure was completed December 2023.

Project documents

Statutory Approvals
  • Development Consent SSD 8889679 (PDF)
  • DPE Approval of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan (PDF)
  • DPE Approval of Environmental Management Strategy and Subplans (PDF)
  • DPE Approval of Staged Plans (PDF)
Stage 1 Plans - Liddell Decoupling Works
  • Notice of Commencement (PDF)
  • Request to Stage Plans (PDF)
  • Environmental Management Strategy (PDF)
  • Environmental Management Strategy - Air Quality Subplan (PDF)
  • Environmental Management Strategy - Contamination Subplan (PDF)
  • Environmental Management Strategy - Noise Subplan (PDF)
  • Environmental Management Strategy - Soil and Water Subplan (PDF)
  • Environmental Management Strategy - Traffic Subplan (PDF)
  • Environmental Management Strategy - Waste Subplan (PDF)
  • Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan (PDF)
Stage 2 - Liddell Battery
 Statutory approvals
  • Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan 05/07/2023 (PDF)
  • Approval to stage Fire Safety Study 30/01/2023 (PDF)
  • Biodiversity Management Plan 10/07/2023 (PDF)
  • Department of Planning and Environment approval of staged plans 18/10/2022 (PDF)
  • Notice of commencement of construction 07/07/2023 (PDF)
  • Approved staged Fire Safety Study 05/04/2024 (PDF)
  • Development consent MOD 1 08/03/22 (PDF)
  • Surrender of consents 07/11/2024 (PDF)
  • Approval of Fire Safety Study 21/03/2025 (PDF)
  • Modification Report 2 (24/2/2025) (PDF)
  • Development consent Mod 2 (April 2025) (PDF)
  • Modification Report 3 (7 May 2025) (PDF)
  • Development consent Mod (3 June 2025) (PDF)
 
Plans
  • Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan (PDF)
  • Biodiversity Management Plan (PDF)
  • Environmental Management Strategy (PDF)
  • Air Quality (PDF)
  • Contamination (PDF)
  • Noise and Vibration (PDF)
  • Soil and Water (PDF)
  • Traffic (PDF)
  • Waste (PDF)
  • Fire Safety Study (PDF)
  • Request to stage plans (PDF)
  • Approval of Management Plans (PDF)
 
Statutory compliance
Stage 3 - Bayswater Ancillary Works
Statutory approvals
Plans
  • Cultural Heritage Management Plan (PDF)
  • Environmental Management Strategy (PDF)
  • Air Quality Management Sub Plan (PDF)
  • Contamination Management Sub Plan (PDF)
  • Noise Management Sub Plan (PDF)
  • Soil and Water Management Sub Plan (PDF)
  • Traffic Management Sub Plan (PDF)
  • Waste Management Sub Plan (PDF)
  • Biodiversity Management Plan (PDF)

Knowledge Sharing

The project will be supported by both a $35 million grant awarded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of its Advancing Renewables Program and a Long-Term Energy Service Agreement (LTESA), arranged by AEMO Services on behalf of the NSW Government.

Community complaints and enquiries

AGL understands that we don’t always get it right, and we want to be informed when we don’t. If you would like to provide any feedback, good or bad, or simply ask some questions, please feel free to get in touch via the following channels:

Complaints and Enquiries Hotline

Call 1800 039 600

Email

AGLCommunity@agl.com.au

Mail

AGL Community Complaints & Enquiries,
Locked Bag 14120 MCMC,
Melbourne VIC 8001

Learn more  about how we handle general customer complaints on our complaints page.