A 600 MW battery energy storage system powered by 444 Tesla Megapacks has gone online in Victoria, Australia, marking the largest completed project on the country's main grid. The Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub in Plumpton will store excess solar and wind energy for evening peaks, powering up to 200,000 homes. Developed by the State Electricity Commission and Equis Australia, it enhances grid stability amid the shift to renewables.
The Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub, located in Plumpton in Melbourne’s west, officially launched on December 8, 2025, as a cornerstone of Australia’s renewable energy transition. This $450 million project features 444 Tesla Megapacks and three Toshiba 500kV high-voltage transformers, providing 600 MW of capacity and 1.6 GWh of storage. It is the biggest fully operational battery energy storage system (BESS) connected to the National Electricity Market, surpassing others like the delayed Waratah Super Battery in New South Wales.
Construction began with a Notice to Proceed in December 2023 and was completed on time and on budget. The system addresses renewable energy overproduction by capturing excess solar and wind power during daylight hours and dispatching it during evening demand peaks. “The Hub will soak up excess wind and solar power during the daytime and shift that energy to the evening peaks when we need it most,” said Chris Miller, CEO of the State Electricity Commission (SEC) of Victoria.
Jointly developed by SEC Victoria and Equis Australia, the project includes innovative engineering, such as a world-first underground 500kV cable linking the BESS to existing gas-insulated grid infrastructure. “Our engineers designed a world-first underground 500kV cable connecting a BESS into existing gas-insulated grid infrastructure,” noted David Russell, Managing Director at Equis Australia. “Our investment team secured a landmark $400m debt package and it has been impressive to watch the project take shape from Notice to Proceed in December 2023, installation of 444 Tesla megapacks and three Toshiba 500kV HV transformers.”
Strategically positioned at the junction of major transmission lines, the Hub supports multiple clean-energy zones and improves price stability as coal plants retire. While not Australia’s absolute largest BESS—Neoen’s 560 MW / 2,240 MWh Collie battery in Western Australia holds that title—it ranks among the world’s biggest operational grid batteries. Tesla’s Megapack, a utility-grade solution for stabilizing renewable generation, underscores Australia’s role as a key market for the company’s energy storage innovations.