News

Turnbull Renewables spreads its project portfolio ambitions from pumped hydro to battery energy storage systems as a co-developer of the Middle Hut BESS in partnership with BZ Renewables.

The proposed Middle Hut BESS project will feature a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of approximately 290 MW / 1160 MWh, although the final exact size will be determined.

An on-site switching station is expected to connect the BESS into either the existing 330kV or 220kV transmission lines that crosses the site.

The development footprint of the project will cover approximately 14 hectares of land located approximately 30km north-east of Melbourne’s CBD in the Nillumbik Shire Council LGA.

A community drop-in session was held in August with the planning application expected to be submitted this month.

Middle Hut BESS is expected to have a total capital investment of around $500mil, take between 18 to 24 months to build, and require a 60 to 100 peak on-site construction workforce and 2-3 full-time equivalent operating roles.

BZ Renewables made a grid connection inquiry for a BESS in Doreen in August last year and appears to have attracted Turnbull Renewables to the project.

Turnbull Renewables was founded in 2023 by former City of Sydney Lord Mayor Lucy Turnbull and former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Two pumped hydro projects the Turnbulls were developing in NSW’s Hunter Valley region, 770 MW 10-hour Glenbawn and 623 MW 10-hour Glennies Creek, were sold to AGL Energy in May last year.

BZ Renewables has another battery project in development, 400 MW / 1600 MWh Glenrowan BESS located approximately 9km south-west of Glenrowan and 5km north-east of Winton, within the Rural City of Benalla. This is another co-development, with Akaysha Energy.