Australia, New South Wales: The Waratah Super Battery has completed a series of high-power tests, including discharging around 700 MW into the grid for two hours before later charging at close to its full 850 MW capacity.
The tests mark a return towards full operation after one of the battery’s three high-voltage transformers suffered a catastrophic failure in October 2025. A second transformer was also damaged, limiting the battery’s available service capacity.
The damaged transformer returned to service in June, while a replacement for the failed unit, weighing around 170 t, was energised in early September. The restored transformer capacity enabled the latest full-power tests.
Waratah is designed to support New South Wales’ System Integrity Protection Scheme rather than operate primarily through conventional energy arbitrage. The scheme uses the battery as a rapid-response resource when transmission constraints occur.
A control system monitors 36 transmission lines across 19 sites and is designed to identify overloads and respond within seconds. When required, the battery can inject power into the network while selected generators reduce output, helping relieve stress on the affected transmission corridor.
During the recent tests, the battery also reached its full 850 MW output for a five-minute interval. The tests must still be verified before the full service contract begins.
The project is designed to provide 700 MW of guaranteed service to the New South Wales grid.
Source: Autonocion
