Deal: HSF has advised energy provider Synergy on its attainment of a 100-megawatt/200-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system, due to be operational by the end of next year.

Value: N/A.

Area: Energy, resources and infrastructure.

Key players: The Herbert Smith Freehills team was led by partner Dan Zador, supported by senior associate Yannis Vrodos and solicitor Sam Edwards. Partner Andrew Mclean and solicitor Kai Low also provided support in connection with financing matters. 

Deal significance: Once constructed, this will be the first (and largest) battery energy storage system (BESS) of its kind to connect to the South West Interconnected System (SWIS).

The project will be delivered by a renewable energy and energy storage specialist, New Horizons Ahead, which is a new entrant to the market.

The BESS, which has the capacity to power 160,000 Perth homes for two hours, is of particular strategic importance in Western Australia, where one in three homes have rooftop solar, and will serve to promote the reliability and security of the electricity grid while enabling and facilitating the connection of new renewable assets to the SWIS.

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Mr Zador said, “It’s been a privilege to work with Synergy on this strategic project. Western Australia is quite late in its uptake of utility-scale batteries, but it’s pleasing to now see their deployment in the SWIS.

“This is the first of its kind but certainly not the last. The expectation is that there will be more to come, particularly as Synergy, and other owners of grid-firming BESS, begin to participate in the ancillary services market. In turn, it will ensure grid stability and increased renewable penetration, supporting the objective of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”