New Titan of the Grid: Octopus Australia to Build Nation's Biggest Battery

Octopus Australia is consolidating its position as one of the most active investors in Australia’s renewable energy transition, announcing the acquisition of two major new development projects including the largest planned battery in the nation.

As coal fired power stations approach retirement across Queensland and New South Wales, Octopus Australia is accelerating its strategy to directly replace that capacity with a reliable portfolio of renewable generation and storage. The company has acquired the Hanworth Battery Energy Storage System in New South Wales, alongside the Dunmore Solar Farm and Battery project in Queensland.

At full scale, the Hanworth Battery near Bannaby west of Bowral will deliver 1.2 gigawatts of power and 4.8 gigawatt hours of storage. It will be capable of supplying electricity to more than half a million homes during evening peak demand when solar generation declines. Connected to Transgrid’s Bannaby Terminal Station, the project will play a critical role in stabilising the grid and supporting long term supply contracts for customers seeking firmed renewable energy.

In Queensland, the Dunmore project near Toowoomba combines a 300 megawatt solar farm with a 150 megawatt battery, creating a hybrid system that stores surplus daytime generation and releases it when demand surges. The acquisition marks Samsung C and T Renewable Energy Australia’s first renewable transaction in the Australian market and reinforces Octopus Australia’s standing as a trusted partner for global energy developers.

With around three quarters of Australia’s coal fleet expected to retire within the next decade, large scale replacement capacity has become a national priority. Octopus Australia’s portfolio approach combines solar, wind and battery assets across multiple regions, allowing energy to be shifted to where and when it is needed.

By owning and operating its assets as a single integrated portfolio, Octopus Australia is delivering firm, predictable power while reducing exposure to wholesale price volatility. It is an approach designed for the real world energy system and one that positions the company at the centre of Australia’s clean energy future.

See our coverage in the Australian Financial Review

https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/octopus-strikes-deals-for-3-3b-battery-outlay-20260204-p5nzdu