Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has commenced construction of its first large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) in Australia, the 240MW / 960MWh Summerfield project, located in South Australia. The move follows a financial investment decision made in September 2024.
The Summerfield battery storage facility is strategically positioned near existing transmission infrastructure, which CIP says will be key in addressing South Australia's growing energy storage needs. The four-hour BESS is expected to help decarbonize the power grid while ensuring reliability, particularly during periods of peak demand.
The project has secured a 10-year offtake agreement with Origin Energy, an Australian electricity generator and retailer. The battery storage system is designed to store excess wind and solar energy generated during the day and release it during high-demand periods, supporting the South Australian government's target of 100% net renewable energy by 2027.
Jørn Hammer, Partner and Head of CIP Australia, expressed enthusiasm about the project's significance, stating, “We are pleased to start construction on CIP's first large-scale energy storage project in Australia, which will be one of the largest in South Australia. CIP has a strong track record of developing, owning, and operating renewable projects globally, and CIP is delighted to bring this expertise to Australia.”
Thomas Wibe Poulsen, Partner and Head of Asia-Pacific at CIP, referred to the project as an “important milestone” for the Summerfield site.
The Summerfield project is part of CIP's CI V flagship fund, which has a target size of €12 billion and invests in a range of renewable energy technologies, including wind, solar, and energy storage, across Europe, North America, and the Asia Pacific region.
