Australia’s Waratah Super Battery Begins Operations to Boost Grid Stability

The Waratah Super Battery in New South Wales has officially started operations, marking a major step in strengthening the region’s energy grid. Once fully operational later in 2025, it is expected to become the world’s largest battery by power output.

Akaysha Energy, a company owned by BlackRock, announced that the battery is now partially online, with 350 MW/750 MWh of capacity already in service. The project is playing a critical role in enhancing grid reliability and energy security as it ramps up toward its full 850 MW/1,680 MWh capacity.

Commissioned by the New South Wales government, the Waratah Super Battery is a key component of the state's System Integrity Protection Scheme (SIPS). The scheme is designed to maintain grid stability by providing backup transmission capacity and acting as a buffer against unexpected power surges.

Located at the site of the former Lake Munmorah coal-fired power station on the NSW Central Coast, around 100 km north of Sydney, the project also includes upgraded transmission infrastructure, control systems, and integration with generation assets as part of the broader SIPS initiative.