Templers BESS is a 111 MW/330 MWh battery energy storage system under development near Gawler in South Australia that is entering the final stages of commissioning and is expected to reach official commercial operations soon. Templers BESS is also South Australia’s second-largest standalone grid-scale energy storage project. The BESS is being developed by ZEBRE – a joint venture between Taiwanese developer HD Renewable Energy Co. Ltd (HDRE) and Australian ZEN Energy. It is designed to enhance electricity reliability and support South Australia’s push toward 100% renewable energy by 2027 alongside others like Hallett battery energy storage system project that has just started construction. Once fully operational, Templers, like Collie BESS in Western Australia, will store excess generation and stabilize the grid. Additionally, Templers BESS generation will power the equivalent of about 96,000 homes for a couple of hours.

ZEBRE’s Templers BESS also features some key technology partners include Sungrow for system integration and battery supply using its PowerTitan liquid-cooled technology. Construction was managed on farmland adjacent to ElectraNet’s Templers substations. Grid connection was also approved rapidly by the Australian Energy Market Operator. Currently, energization and commissioning are underway ahead of an anticipated operations start.

Templers battery energy storage system (BESS): Project factsheet

Location: Near Gawler, South Australia. About 60 km north of Adelaide.

Developer/Owner: ZEBRE, a joint venture between HD Renewable Energy Co. Ltd (HDRE) and ZEN Energy.

Capacity:

• 111 MW power capacity.
• 291–330 MWh energy storage.

Technology:

• Lithium-ion battery energy storage.
• Sungrow PowerTitan liquid-cooled battery system.

Grid connection:

Connected to the National Electricity Market (NEM) via South Australia’s grid infrastructure with approval from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).

Project status:

• Construction largely complete.
• Commissioning underway, operations start also expected.
• Previous expected commercial operation start date: Late 2025

Impact:

Once operational, the Templers BESS will be South Australia’s second-largest standalone battery installation. It will help stabilize the grid and also support higher renewable integration by storing excess generation and delivering dispatchable power. It is also expected to provide the equivalent of energy to power approximately 96,000 homes for around 2.5–2.6 hours at full discharge.

Jobs impact:

• 181 jobs created during construction.
• Up to 4 ongoing full-time positions for operations and maintenance assistance once commissioned.

Contractors, suppliers and partners at Templers BESS

Developers and sponsors

• ZEBRE JV as owner.
• HD Renewable Energy Co. Ltd (HDRE) as equity partner in JV.
• ZEN Energy – Australian developer and also ZEBRE co-founder.

Technology and system integration

• Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd.
• Shanxi Electric Power Construction (SEPC) as consortium partner with Sungrow and with ZEN Energy in project execution.

Advisors, legal and financial partners

• King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) for legal and structuring advisor to ZEN Energy on financing, contracts, land tenure and construction arrangements for the project.
• Natixis as project financing partner.

Grid and regulatory oversight

• Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) who approved the grid connection and market entry for the system.

Overview on project construction timeline

Early development and approvals: Grid connection approval was achieved in record time, cleared by AEMO by early 2023.

Construction start: Began in mid-2024 following financial close, partnership formation and Notice to Proceed issuance to Sungrow.

Commissioning phase: Started in 2025, with system testing and market registration underway.

Templers BESS project, South Australia’s second-largest, given green light

Reported April 6, 2024 – The implementation of South Australia’s second-largest energy storage system and also the second-largest stand-alone battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Australia, Templers BESS project, is set to begin. This is after Sungrow Power, one of the world’s leading Photovoltaics (PV) inverter and energy storage system suppliers, was given a Notice to Proceed (NTP) with the development and construction of the 111MW/291MWh facility by ZEN Energy.

ZEN Energy, (ZEN stands for Zero Emissions Now), is an Australian company building a portfolio of renewable energy resources. It is also firming assets in a bid to support clients with large electricity needs. The company is the Templers BESS project’s current owner and developer having acquired it from Renewable Energy Systems (RES Group) about a year ago in March 2023.

RES on the other hand is a renewable energy company that provides services across the globe. They focus on development, engineering, and construction. Also in their repertoire is project operation, as they continue to contribute to the goal of a low-carbon, sustainable future.

Development of the Templers BESS project

The project is being developed in the northern region of Adelaide, South Australia. According to reports all approvals and financial commitments for the project have been obtained and Financial Close completed. One of the approvals, grid connection approval was received from the Australian Energy Market Operator before the change of ownership.

Recently the project attracted Stonepeak, an American investment firm that focuses on investments in infrastructure and more recently real estate, as a financial partner. The company has also already pledged to provide up to AUD 70 million the equivalent of USD 45.5 million or EUR 42.1 million for the realization of South Australia’s second-largest energy storage system and the second-largest stand-alone battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Australia.

The developer expects the project to take approximately 17 months to complete following which it shall be fully energized and providing services to the South Australian grid by the second quarter of 2025.

Sungrow contribution to South Australia’s second-largest energy storage system

According to a statement, Sungrow will supply and install its PowerTitan energy storage system at the Templers BESS. Reportedly, the system uses advanced liquid cooling battery technology that will help enhance grid reliability, mitigate intermittency issues, and also stabilize power supply.

The company, in a press release, noted that with the project now set for construction, it looks forward to its completion and the subsequent contribution it will make to Australia’s energy sector adding that this collaboration with ZEN Energy and SEPC marks a milestone in its global expansion, further cementing its position as a key player in renewable energy solutions.

SEPC or rather Shanix Electric Power Construction is a Chinese energy construction company and the consortium partner for the Templers BESS, South Australia’s second-largest energy storage system and the second-largest stand-alone battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Australia.

Also Read

Construction of Collie BESS, the largest battery storage in Australia begins

Agreement signed for 400 MWh BESS next to one of Australia’s biggest solar projects

Australia’s largest remote-grid solar power plant, Dugald River, opened officially