GRS has started construction of the Blind Creek Solar Farm and Battery project for Octopus Australia, adding a 300-MW photovoltaic facility and a 486-MWh DC-coupled battery energy storage system near Bungendore in New South Wales.
The company said the project will be among Australia’s largest DC-coupled systems and follows its ongoing collaboration with Octopus Australia on the Fulham Solar Farm and Battery project, an 80-MW and 128-MWh hybrid facility under development in Victoria. “The company said the project will add a 300MW photovoltaic plant and a 486MWh DC-coupled battery energy storage system,” according to the original statement.
GRS said the milestone will lift its installed solar capacity in Australia to more than 2.8 GWdc and expand its storage portfolio to 690 MWh across 17 large-scale projects. The company added that Blind Creek is expected to support grid strength, increase renewable penetration and contribute to economic development in surrounding communities.
The project will be delivered under an engineering, procurement, construction and long-term operations and maintenance contract. Green Grid Connect will construct the substation infrastructure, while PV Hardware will supply and install its AxoneDuo Infinity solar tracker technology.
Octopus Australia’s Sonia Teitel said: “Following the successful start of Fulham Solar Farm and Battery, this breakthrough demonstrates what can be achieved when great teams work together. Australia’s energy transition needs to be faster, and partnerships like this allow us to accelerate it.”
GRS executive José Miguel Plaza said: “The Blind Creek Solar Farm and Battery project represents a significant milestone, not only for GRS, but also for communities in New South Wales. This agreement reaffirms our long-term commitment to drive Australia’s energy transition through innovative and large-scale renewable projects.”
GRS said the Blind Creek contract, together with the commissioning of the 100-MWh Glendevon battery project in Scotland and construction progress at Fulham, supports its strategy of expanding energy storage in both hybrid and stand-alone applications.
