Blyth Battery Goes Live: NHOA Energy and Elecnor Commission 477 MWh Storage System for Neoen in South Australia
In a significant milestone for Australia’s energy transition, NHOA Energy, an internationally recognized leader in utility-scale energy storage systems, has announced the successful completion and commissioning of the Blyth Battery. This ambitious project, delivered for French renewable energy giant Neoen and in collaboration with Elecnor Australia, marks a pivotal advancement in South Australia’s clean energy infrastructure. With a total capacity of 238.5 MW / 477 MWh, the Blyth Battery is now live and operational, poised to support the country’s ongoing decarbonization goals.
A Strategic Partnership for a Landmark Project
The Blyth Battery represents the latest chapter in Neoen’s expanding portfolio of renewable energy assets in Australia. Known for its forward-thinking strategies and commitment to innovation, Neoen continues to spearhead clean energy projects that contribute meaningfully to Australia’s energy future. For the Blyth Battery, the company brought together the engineering and energy expertise of NHOA Energy and the project delivery capabilities of Elecnor Australia, ensuring a robust partnership that could deliver results both effectively and efficiently.
Delivered on time and within the agreed budget, the Blyth Battery project adhered to stringent performance requirements set by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and ElectraNet, South Australia’s transmission network service provider. This success underscores the technical excellence and project management capabilities of NHOA Energy, which played a central role in bringing the massive energy storage system online.
Supporting Australia’s Energy Transition
Australia has become one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS), driven by a strong policy framework, rapid renewable energy adoption, and increasing demand for grid reliability. The Blyth Battery is a perfect example of how large-scale storage can enable the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, into the national grid.
This storage system is designed to work in conjunction with Neoen’s Goyder South Stage 1 wind farm, a key component of the broader Goyder Renewables Zone in South Australia. The battery will firm the output of the wind farm, enabling the delivery of 70 MW of renewable baseload energy to mining giant BHP. This arrangement is facilitated through an innovative renewable energy baseload contract, which provides consistent power delivery over long durations—something that historically was considered a challenge with renewables alone.
By providing firmed renewable power to a major industrial customer like BHP, the Blyth Battery exemplifies the growing maturity of battery storage technologies and their capacity to replace or complement fossil fuel-based baseload generation. In addition to supporting BHP’s clean energy goals, the battery will also participate in the National Electricity Market (NEM), offering a suite of services including frequency control ancillary services (FCAS), load shifting, and grid stability support.
Technical Excellence and Long-Term Operation
The technical specifications of the Blyth Battery showcase the progress in energy storage system design. With a nameplate capacity of nearly 240 megawatts and an energy storage duration of two hours (477 MWh), the system has the potential to discharge massive volumes of electricity when the grid needs it most. It is built to respond rapidly to fluctuations in electricity demand and supply, a critical attribute in a grid increasingly powered by renewables.
NHOA Energy’s role did not end with design and construction. Under a long-term operations and maintenance (O&M) contract with Neoen, NHOA Energy will now oversee the ongoing performance of the battery system. A team of highly trained service professionals has been assigned to ensure the facility operates at peak efficiency and maintains its reliability across its lifecycle.
The O&M agreement ensures continuity and reliability, which are essential in a market where grid stability is paramount. Long-term asset management is increasingly seen as a cornerstone of battery storage economics, as it preserves both financial performance and technical integrity over time.
Global Significance and Financing
Notably, the Blyth Battery was project-financed by a consortium of international lenders, reflecting growing investor confidence in energy storage as a bankable asset class. The successful financial close and commissioning of such a large project signal a major vote of confidence in Australia’s renewable energy framework and market design.
Energy storage is becoming essential to modern power systems globally. With countries racing to meet emissions targets and replace retiring coal and gas plants, batteries like Blyth are stepping in to provide the flexibility, responsiveness, and resilience needed in the 21st-century energy grid.
Strengthening Market Leadership
For NHOA Energy, the Blyth Battery reaffirms its strong position in the Australian and broader Asia-Pacific energy markets. The company, which has a growing global footprint, sees Australia as a strategic hub for innovation and deployment of clean energy solutions. Its contribution to projects like Blyth reflects both a technical mastery of complex systems and a deep understanding of market requirements.
“This is what matters, in a scenario where energy storage systems become the cornerstone of grid stability, security, and an affordable and sustainable energy supply,” said Lucie Kanius-Dujardin, Global Managing Director of NHOA Energy. “The successful commissioning of Blyth Battery is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team and partners, and to our ability to serve clients globally.”
Her comments emphasize a broader shift occurring worldwide: energy storage is no longer a peripheral technology—it is central to the energy transition. Whether for firming renewables, stabilizing grids, or replacing diesel and gas peaker plants, batteries are emerging as a dominant force in energy infrastructure.
Local Impact and Grid Leadership
South Australia has become a global leader in renewable energy integration, regularly operating on 100% renewable energy for extended periods. However, high penetration of renewables brings challenges in terms of grid stability, inertia, and dispatchability. Batteries like Blyth are critical in smoothing the volatility and ensuring power is reliable when solar and wind outputs fluctuate.
Jean-Christophe Cheylus, CEO of Neoen Australia, highlighted the strategic importance of the project: “Blyth Battery is a great example of Neoen’s continuing commitment to grid stability and reliability in South Australia. We are proud to lead the State’s battery storage market and are excited to start supporting BHP under our innovative renewable energy baseload contract. We appreciate the dedication from and close collaboration with the teams at NHOA Energy and Elecnor, whose work has been essential in helping us meet this project milestone.”
This statement reflects Neoen’s long-standing focus on market leadership and innovation. The company has previously commissioned several landmark battery projects in Australia, including the Hornsdale Power Reserve, often referred to as the “Tesla Big Battery,” and continues to drive cutting-edge solutions for grid transformation.
The successful launch of the Blyth Battery is not just a win for the stakeholders involved—it is a signal to the global energy industry. It shows that large-scale energy storage projects can be financed, constructed, and operated successfully within competitive timelines and budgets. It also demonstrates how storage can partner effectively with renewables to deliver clean, reliable, baseload power.
As Australia continues to retire coal plants and scale up renewables, more projects like Blyth will be necessary. The lessons learned and capabilities demonstrated here will undoubtedly inform future deployments across the country and beyond.
