Construction has begun on the first of eight large community-scale batteries designed to strengthen Western Sydney’s electricity network during heatwaves and periods of peak demand.
“The Hawkesbury Gazette attended the official sod-turning ceremony in Penrith on 27 August 2026 where NSW Climate Change and Energy Minister Penny Sharpe joined Member for Penrith Karen McKeown and representatives of Endeavour Energy and Ausconnex to mark the beginning of construction.
The Penrith Battery Energy Storage System is the first project to proceed under a privately funded program worth more than $65 million being delivered by Ausconnex, part of the Endeavour Energy Group.
When completed, the Penrith battery will be capable of supplying just under five megawatts of power and storing 17 megawatt-hours of electricity.
It will be followed by proposed batteries at South Marsden Park, Seven Hills, Emu Plains, Maldon, North Leppington, Cawdor and Cranebrook.
Together, the eight batteries are expected to provide approximately 40MW of power and 136MWh of storage. Ausconnex says that is enough stored energy to supply the equivalent of 40,000 homes for up to three hours, based on standard household consumption.
The batteries will charge when electricity is abundant, including during the middle of the day when rooftop solar generation is high, and return that power to the network during periods of heavy demand.
That capacity is particularly important during summer evenings, when temperatures can remain in the high 30s and thousands of households are operating air conditioners simultaneously.
Penrith and surrounding areas experience some of Australia’s most severe urban heat.
Penrith Lakes reached 48.9°C on January 4, 2020, the highest temperature recorded in the Sydney Basin and the highest reported in an Australian metropolitan area since reliable records began. Contemporary international comparisons also identified Penrith as the hottest place in the world that day.
Western Sydney’s geography, extensive areas of concrete and limited cooling from coastal breezes can combine to trap hot air against the Blue Mountains.
At the same time, the region is experiencing rapid population growth, extensive housing construction and increasing demand for electricity.
Ms Sharpe said battery storage was already playing an important role in maintaining electricity supplies when demand was high.
“Western Sydney is one of Australia’s most dynamic regions, and we’re building the energy infrastructure now to make sure homes and businesses have access to reliable and affordable renewable energy,” she said.
“Battery storage is already playing a critical role in keeping the lights on when demand is high, and these new projects will help strengthen the energy system as Western Sydney continues to grow."
“This investment shows real confidence in Western Sydney’s future and will help support the region’s growth for decades to come.”
Endeavour Energy Group chief executive Danny Cooper said the batteries were being placed in some of Australia’s fastest-growing communities.
“The batteries are being delivered in some of the fastest-growing communities in Australia, where population growth, new housing and increasing electrification are driving demand,” Mr Cooper said.
“Battery energy storage systems will make better use of renewable energy, provide greater flexibility across the energy system and support the region’s growth for decades to come.”
Head of Ausconnex Matt Porteous said beginning construction at Penrith was an important milestone for the wider program.
“Ausconnex is focused on working with our partners to turn technologies like battery energy storage into infrastructure that can be delivered at scale to support the region’s rapid growth,” he said.
“The benefits of this investment extend well beyond the battery itself. These eight BESS sites will create work for local businesses, contractors and workers right across Western Sydney, and help build the skilled workforce needed to operate and maintain this infrastructure in the years ahead.”
Although the batteries cannot prevent every blackout, they can be activated within seconds to provide additional power, reduce pressure on the distribution network and lower the risk of supply interruptions during periods of extreme demand.
The eight projects are expected to be completed by 2029, subject to the remaining sites receiving planning approval.
The medium-voltage Penrith battery now under construction is separate from a much larger high-voltage battery Ausconnex has also proposed for Penrith. That project would be capable of supplying up to 100MW and storing 200MWh of electricity and will be subject to a separate planning and assessment process.
