Fluence Energy, Inc. has secured its largest-ever global project by partnering with AGL to deliver the 500 MW / 2,000 MWh Tomago Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Newcastle, New South Wales (NSW).
This represents one of the largest energy storage transactions by MWh in Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM), and also pushes Fluence’s total BESS capacity in the country to 5 GWh.
Project Summary
Fluence will deploy its Gridstack Pro™ platform for the Tomago BESS, which will deliver flexible power, synthetic inertia, and grid stability support in a network that is actively transitioning from its coal-fired past.
The Tomago BESS project follows Fluence’s previous work with AGL on the 50 MWh Broken Hill BESS that is already operational, and the 1,000 MWh Liddell BESS that is currently under-construction.
AGL has made a final investment decision (FID), with construction scheduled to begin in late 2025 and commissioning expected in late 2027. The total build cost is approximately A$800 million (US$518m).
Tomago BESS Project Factsheet
Location: Tomago Industrial Estate, near Newcastle, NSW
Developer: Fluence Energy
Owner & Operator: AGL Energy
Capacity: 500 MW/2,000 MWh
Project cost estimate: A$800 million (US$518 million)
Construction start date: July 2025
Expected commissioning date: Late 2027
Technology: Gridstack Pro™
Grid connection: Via existing infrastructure near the Tomago Aluminium substation
Project status: FID made; construction start due
Fluence Australia footprint: 5 GWh total: Broken Hill (50 MWh), Liddell (1,000 MWh), Tomago
What the Tomago BESS Offers
- Grid frequency stabilization
- Renewable load shifting (solar/wind integration)
- Peaking support and backup during high energy demand periods
Also read: Energy Vault’s Cross Trails BESS Project Secures $18 Million in New Financing
Broader Significance
- Major boost to NEM reliability. Tomago offers significant renewable capacity as AGL phases out key coal generators in NSW.
- Proven technology platform. Gridstack Pro™ is designed for fast deployment, optimized thermal control, enhanced safety, and domestic IRA compliance. It is also backed by rigorous testing, thence meeting fire safety standards like the UL 9540A and NFPA 855.
- Policy alignment. AGL’s Tomago BESS supports NSW’s Energy Infrastructure Roadmap, which targets 12 GW renewables and 2 GW long-duration storage by 2030.
- Industrial synergy. The Tomago BESS project is located near Tomago Aluminium and is connected to key infrastructure corridors in Australia. This reinforces local and regional energy resilience.
- Market leadership. Fluence now leads BESS deployment in Australia with a pipeline nearing 3,000 MWh for AGL and others. This cements its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing storage markets.
Key Quotes
Jan Teichmann, SVP & President, APAC at Fluence, emphasized: “This project strongly demonstrates our ongoing commitment to support AGL … Australia remains one of the most important storage markets globally”.
Across the table, AGL’s COO, Markus Brokhof, added that Tomago builds on the company’s proven delivery track record with Fluence across multiple BESS projects.
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