AGL Energy, a large Australian company, has launched the commissioning of the first 250 MW at its 500 MW/1,000 MWh Liddell battery project in New South Wales, Australia, moving closer to the full site's energisation later in 2026 (AGL Energy press release, 20/03/2026). The battery energy storage system (BESS) is being built next to AGL's shuttered Liddell coal-fired power plant and will become part of the Hunter Energy Hub, which will repurpose the thermal power site.
Construction of the Liddell battery is complete and it will ramp up to full commercial operations by June 2026. AGL explained that commissioning works will involve testing the battery's performance and dispatch into the grid over the coming months. Once fully operational, the facility will provide two hours of storage capacity and support system stability in the National Electricity Market (NEM).
Fluence Energy (a 50:50 JV of AES and Siemens) is AGL's construction partner for the Liddell battery. The project is supported by AUD35m (USD 24.8m) in grant funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and a Long-Term Energy Service Agreement (LTESA) secured in a state tender for long-duration storage capacity.