Singapore-headquartered renewable energy producer Vena Energy has added a 41.5MW battery energy storage system (BESS) to an existing 87MW solar PV power plant in South Australia.
The addition of the BESS marks the successful commissioning of the Tailem Bend 2 Hybrid Project. The solar-plus-storage site is situated across 207 hectares in Tailen Bend, around 90km southeast of the state capital, Adelaide.
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Vena confirmed that the project will connect to the National Electricity Market (NEM) via ElectraNet’s Tailem Bend Substation from the Coorong 2 Substation. The BESS will serve as a load and generator for the network by capturing low-cost renewable energy to be discharged at peak demand.
The battery will also participate in Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) to help manage the grid’s frequency within the normal operating band. Vena also claims the project has a “groundbreaking feature” for the Australian market with its design enabling the solar PV and battery components to operate independently while sharing a single grid connection.
Owen Sela, head of Australia for Vena Energy, highlighted that the solar-plus-storage project will provide operational flexibility, helping to optimise existing grid infrastructure.
“Our system enables simultaneous export of solar power to the grid and independent operation of the battery for energy export or storage. By optimising existing grid infrastructure, we are enabling renewable energy to be dispatched when needed, delivering cost-effective power to South Australia,” Sela said.
“This ability to store surplus energy and meet high-demand periods advances our mission to accelerate the energy transition while ensuring communities benefit from a smarter, more resilient energy system that supports the state’s 2030 emissions targets and Australia’s net zero future.”
Adelaide-headquartered renewable energy developer ZEN Energy will purchase renewable energy from the Tailem Bend 2 solar-plus-storage project, underpinned through a long-term commitment from the South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) Joint Electricity Purchasing Group.
This agreement will support customers, including the majority of local Foodland and IGA supermarkets, Viterra, Central Irrigation Trust, Adchem, and Hillgrove Resources.
Vena Energy’s developments near Tailem Bend
In recent years, Tailem Bend has become a hotspot for Vena Energy’s renewable energy and storage projects.
As reported by our colleagues at PV Tech, Vena Energy completed its 95MW Tailem Bend 1 solar PV project in 2019, which is adjacent to the new development. The project was deemed the second largest in South Australia when it started operations.
The project’s off-taker is New South Wales-based utility Snowy Hydro, which signed a 22-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for the entire solar plant’s output. This was enacted through Snowy Hydro’s Lumo Energy branch, the jurisdiction of which includes South Australia.
Together, the two solar projects deliver a combined capacity of 182MW, which increases to 223.5MW with the integration of battery storage at Tailem Bend 2.
Additionally, Vena Energy said approval for another BESS at Tailem Bend has been secured. This will enable up to 204MW/408MWh of renewable energy storage sourced directly from the grid.
Vena Energy’s Australian energy storage portfolio
Vena Energy has been exploring using energy storage to bolster grid stability and optimise solar PV power plants.
One of the most notable projects is the Miles Renewable Project in Queensland, a proposed 500MW solar-plus-storage site, which includes plans for a 500MW/2,000MWh 4-hour duration BESS. The project is targeted to enter the construction phase in Q1 2026.
The project, located 6km southeast of Miles in Queensland’s Western Downs region, will connect to the NEM via an existing Columboola substation to the north of the project site.
Vena is also pursuing the development of the Bellambi Heights BESS located in the New South Wales Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). The capacity of this REZ recently increased to 7.7GW.
The 408MW/808MWh 2-hour duration BESS will be built in two 204MW stages. Vena has previously said that the project’s proposed site presents “optimal conditions” for utility-scale BESS as it is relatively flat, undulating, and predominantly cleared, with existing 330kV transmission lines traversing the site.
