Vena Energy Starts Building 408-MWh Battery in South Australia

• Vena Energy begins construction of a 408-MWh battery at Tailem Bend, expanding its solar-storage hub and boosting South Australia’s grid stability.

Vena Energy has kicked off construction of a 408-MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at its Tailem Bend renewable complex in South Australia, marking the third major development phase at the site. Already home to a large solar farm and an earlier co-located battery, Tailem Bend is evolving into one of the country’s most strategically important solar-plus-storage hubs.

The new battery will play a central role in smoothing solar output and supporting grid reliability in South Australia—a region that has one of the world’s highest shares of variable renewable generation. As rooftop and utility-scale solar continue to grow, large battery systems have become essential tools for stabilizing voltage, reducing curtailment, and shifting excess daytime energy into the evening peak.

Vena Energy says the expansion will enable more efficient use of existing infrastructure, including transmission lines and operational control systems. The company has also emphasized the project’s importance in demonstrating how multi-phase, co-located developments can reduce costs and speed up deployment.

South Australia remains a global test case for high-renewable grids. With coal long phased out and gas use declining, batteries increasingly serve as the backbone for flexible capacity. The state already hosts some of the world’s most prominent storage installations, and Tailem Bend’s new 408-MWh system adds another major asset to that portfolio.

Construction is expected to generate local employment and support regional supply chains. Once completed, the project will enable Vena Energy to participate more actively in Australia’s rapidly maturing storage market, where arbitrage, FCAS services, and emerging capacity mechanisms are shaping new revenue streams.

Vena Energy says the Tailem Bend buildout reflects its long-term commitment to Australia and its confidence in large-scale storage as a pillar of the country’s energy transition.