Australia, New South Wales, Munmorah: The Waratah Super Battery, Australia’s most powerful battery storage facility, has suffered a major setback after one of its three transformers failed during final commissioning tests. The 850 MW, 1,680 MWh battery, located at Munmorah on the New South Wales central coast, experienced what Akaysha Energy described as a “catastrophic failure” on 18 October, leaving the unit “beyond repair.”
The battery was only hours away from completing its final testing phase, which would have brought it to full capacity. The project, already delayed by severe weather, now faces at least another six months of setbacks, potentially extending completion to 2026. Additional issues were found in a second transformer, further complicating repairs and timelines.
Despite the failure, Akaysha Energy confirmed that the facility continues to provide 350 MW and 700 MWh of capacity under the System Integrity Protection Scheme (SIPS), acting as a grid stabiliser for Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong.
Once fully operational, the Waratah Super Battery will serve as a “shock absorber” for the NSW grid, allowing transmission lines to operate closer to capacity and improving energy security as coal-fired plants retire.
Akaysha Energy, now Australia’s largest operator of grid-scale batteries, said it remains committed to restoring full capacity. The company continues to meet its SIPS obligations while preparing for additional system testing and transformer replacement.
Source: Renew Economy
