Tesla has achieved another significant milestone in grid-scale energy storage with the activation of a massive battery project in Australia. The Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub is now powered by 444 Tesla Megapacks, making it one of the largest grid-forming battery projects in the country.
Owned by Equis and Australia’s State Electricity Commission (SEC), the 600 MW / 1.6 GWh project is strategically located in western Melbourne near major transmission infrastructure. This positioning allows the battery system to provide essential grid services, including system strength and grid support, as renewable energy generation continues to expand across Victoria.
The sheer scale of the project is impressive, with a value of approximately $450 million. It ranks among the largest battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the world and is capable of actively stabilizing the grid by providing inertia, frequency control, and voltage support. This is crucial as coal and gas plants are phased out in favor of renewable energy sources.
Tesla’s Megapack has emerged as the company’s flagship utility-grade energy storage solution, specifically designed for grid-scale applications. Each Megapack can store around 4 MWh of energy and dispatch it as needed, making it an essential tool for integrating intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind. Australia has become a key market for Megapack deployments, with Tesla securing multiple large-scale projects in the country in recent years.
The Melbourne installation is just the latest in a series of high-profile Megapack deployments globally. In North America, Tesla Megapacks have been installed at a $90 million battery energy storage facility in Canada and a massive 550 MW / 2,200 MWh project in Arizona. Tesla continues to innovate on the product side as well, unveiling Megapack 3 and the new Megablock system last year. These new systems promise faster installation, higher capacity, and improved long-term reliability.
As grids around the world accelerate their transition to decarbonization, projects like the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub highlight the essential role of Tesla’s Megapack in modern electricity systems. The project underscores Tesla’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions and reinforces Australia’s position as a testing ground for innovative grid storage technologies.