en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Victorian Government in Australia has approved four energy project applications through the Development Facilitation Program (DFP), with a total investment of AUD 2.4 billion (approximately USD 1.71 billion), including 1,390 MW of battery energy storage systems.

The approved projects include three standalone battery energy storage systems and one wind power plus energy storage project. Since the program was expanded to the renewable energy sector two years ago, the cumulative value of energy projects fast-tracked through the DFP has exceeded AUD 11 billion, with over 30 projects in total.

The largest project is the Morwell Battery Energy Storage System in the Latrobe Valley, with an investment of AUD 1.3 billion, developed by TagEnergy. TagEnergy acquired the project from Australian domestic developer Ace Power in mid-2025. The project has a capacity of 1,000 MW/4,000 MWh with a four-hour duration and will connect to the 500 kV Hazelwood substation near Morwell.

The Nine Mile Energy Park battery storage project, developed in collaboration between Pacific Green and Green Switch Energy, is located near Geelong with an investment of AUD 600 million and will be built in two phases. The facility includes two co-located battery energy storage systems: Phase 1 has a capacity of 250 MW/500 MWh, and Phase 2 will expand to four hours (1,000 MWh). Construction is expected to begin as early as late 2026, subject to grid connection approvals, procurement, and project financing.

The Gelliondale wind farm in Gippsland, with an investment of AUD 388 million, is developed by Synergy Wind and supported by a group of German investors. The project includes 13 wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 80 MW, along with a co-located 40 MW battery energy storage system. The project is expected to provide approximately 300,000 MWh of renewable energy annually to this region of Victoria, known for mining, power generation, and agriculture.

The final approved project is the Chivers Road Battery Energy Storage System planned for deployment in Glenrowan, with an investment of AUD 130 million, developed by Pacific Partnerships. This behind-the-meter energy storage system will connect to the existing 130 MW Glenrowan Solar Farm. The 100 MW battery energy storage system is located within the development footprint of the existing solar farm, covering approximately 2.7 hectares, and is designed to store and dispatch electricity from the solar farm to support grid stability.

In recent months, the DFP has approved a second large-scale battery energy storage system in the Glenrowan area. In February 2026, the 400 MW/1,600 MWh Glenrowan battery storage project, developed in collaboration between renewable energy developer Akaysha Energy and BZ Renewables, also received DFP approval. Last month, Akaysha Energy's project passed the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act review.

Victoria's Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny stated that the DFP aims to accelerate decision-making without compromising assessment rigor. She said the government is making the right decisions faster so that the public can access cheaper renewable energy sooner. Victoria's Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D'Dambrosio added that these projects will strengthen the state's energy supply and lower wholesale electricity prices.

The DFP was established to address structural bottlenecks in Victoria's planning system. Before the program was introduced, more than one-fifth of energy project applications faced delays at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, adding years to project delivery timelines. By allowing eligible projects to bypass VCAT, the DFP significantly streamlines the approval pathway while retaining requirements for agency referrals, community consultation, and planning assessments.

The program's project pipeline has been consistently documented across multiple approval rounds. In November 2025, the Victorian Government approved Eku Energy's 300 MW/1,200 MWh Tramway Road battery storage project in Gippsland, as well as the Meadow Creek Solar Farm (including a 332 MW photovoltaic plant and a 250 MW/1,000 MWh battery system), with a combined investment of approximately AUD 1.2 billion, creating over 650 construction jobs. In early February 2026, the Victorian Government approved Akaysha Energy's planned 1,600 MWh Glenrowan battery storage project and Atmos Renewables' planned 300 MW/1,140 MWh battery storage system in Heywood.

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