Energy Vault has secured the contract for the BESS at the SEC Renewable Energy Park in Horsham, marking another step in Victoria delivering Australia’s first 100 per cent publicly owned renewable energy project.
Announcing the partnership, Minister for the State Electricity Commission (SEC) Lily D’Ambrosio said the 100-megawatt, two-hour battery would help lower energy costs while supporting grid stability.
“Building more renewable energy will make sure Victoria can continue to have the lowest wholesale energy prices in the market, push down energy bills and create good local jobs,” she said.
“We’re excited to partner with Energy Vault to help deliver the battery for our first 100 percent publicly owned renewable energy project.”
According to the State Government, the battery project will store energy generated by the project’s 119-megawatt solar farm, which is expected to produce 242,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy annually — enough to power 51,000 homes.
It will also enable an additional 180 megawatts of new renewable energy to be added to the grid.
Pre-construction works have already commenced, with completion scheduled for 2027.
The project is expected to create around 246 jobs during construction, including 20 positions for apprentices, trainees, and cadets.
The SEC will also provide direct support to the local community, investing $42,000 per year during construction and $70,000 annually once operational.
The initiative follows the SEC’s first investment project, the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub, which is set to connect to Victoria’s electricity grid later this year.
The 600-megawatt big battery near Melton will have the capacity to power 200,000 homes during peak periods.
Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora highlighted the local benefits of the project.
“The SEC Renewable Energy Park will deliver cheaper power for all of Victoria and create lots of great new jobs in Horsham,” she said.
Energy Vault Chairman and CEO Robert Piconi underscored the project’s alignment with the company’s mission.
“This publicly-owned project is well-aligned with our mission to accelerate the clean energy transition through sustainable and efficient energy storage solutions and will play a pivotal role in ensuring the availability of renewable energy.”
All profits from the SEC will be reinvested into Victoria to support further renewable energy initiatives and help lower household energy costs.
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