Atmos Renewables and Nomad Energy Begin Construction on 100 MW / 400 MWh Merredin Big Battery in Western Australia

Image: Atmos Renewables

Sydney-based developer Atmos Renewables and its Perth-based partner Nomad Energy have officially commenced construction of the 100 MW / 400 MWh Merredin Big Battery, a utility-scale energy storage project located in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region.

The battery energy storage system (BESS) is being built on a four-hectare site near the town of Merredin, adjacent to the existing 100 MW Merredin Solar Farm developed by Sun Energy. Located approximately 260 kilometres east of Perth, the project benefits from direct proximity to the 220 kV Muja to Kalgoorlie transmission line and will connect to the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) via Western Power’s Merredin Terminal Station.

WA Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson welcomed the project, stating it would provide critical support to the state's power grid and enhance energy security across the SWIS and the Wholesale Electricity Market as Western Australia accelerates its clean energy transition.

“Grid-scale batteries play an important role in our clean energy transition, storing excess energy during the day and discharging it at night, helping to stabilise and strengthen our electricity grid,” Sanderson said.

“The Merredin Big Battery will add to our energy armoury, which includes state-owned batteries in Kwinana and Collie, and the Neoen battery also in Collie,” she added.

Since 2023, nearly 500 MW of battery storage has become operational within the SWIS, with an additional 728 MW of committed capacity expected to be commissioned by 2025–2026. These storage systems are considered critical for balancing increasing volumes of variable renewable energy on the grid.

The Merredin Big Battery is one of four large-scale storage projects selected under Western Australia’s first storage tender, launched through the federal government’s Capacity Investment Scheme.

GenusPlus, a Perth-based engineering and construction company, has been appointed to carry out the project’s design, procurement, installation, and civil works. Construction is expected to take approximately 18 months, with project commissioning anticipated in late 2026. Up to 70 jobs are expected to be created at the peak of the construction phase.

The project marks another significant step in Western Australia’s journey toward a more flexible, reliable, and renewable-powered energy system.