Securing reliable and affordable power for New South Wales.

At a Glance

Capacity – 400 MW / 1,600 MWh

Land size – 14 hectares

Location – Armidale (New England), New South Wales 

For the economy – Creating 80 jobs during construction and up to 5 jobs once operational.

For the climate – Offsetting 496,000 tonnes of CO₂ offset per year and powering around 53,000 homes per day.

Map showing Gara BESS near roads

Project Overview

The Gara BESS will be located near Armidale in New South Wales’ Northern Tablelands. The project will store electricity during low demand periods and feed it back into the grid at times of high demand, enhancing grid stability. It will support NSW’s clean energy transition and secure reliable, affordable power for residents and businesses.

Once operational, the Gara BESS will be one of the state’s largest Battery Energy Storage Systems. It will connect directly to existing 330kV network infrastructure via a dedicated connection asset.

For detailed project documentation and public records, please visit the NSW Planning Portal.

Project Timeline

Status:

Under Development

Land Secured:

2023

Phase 1

Development & Approvals
2025-2026

Phase 2

Construction
2026-2028

Phase 3

Operations
From 2028

Working with the community

Our approach aims to mitigate any project impacts and maximise opportunities for local communities. We are working with near neighbours, the local community and key stakeholders to identify and mitigate any potential impacts.

We are committed to building a positive legacy, together with the local community. We are working with Armidale Regional Council to identify opportunities for benefit sharing that will deliver lasting social and economic benefit.

Our team also values our ongoing relationship and collaborative dialogue with the Armidale Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC).

We will keep the community informed of project progress and impacts throughout the project lifecycle. Our project team is available to answer any questions and welcomes your feedback.

BLOGS

Latest News

Utility-scale solar farm infrastructure by ACEnergy in Australia
ACEN Australia project site and substation aerial view

The Central BESS project approved: ACEnergy reaffirms commitment to Bouldercombe community through $3.6 million benefit sharing program

The Planning and Environment Court has approved ACEnergy’s amended development application for the 500 MW Central Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) near Bouldercombe, Queensland. This

Read More
Aerial view of ACEN Australia battery storage system.

ACEnergy awarded two major Victorian battery projects under Capacity Investment Scheme

ACEnergy has been awarded two of Victoria’s largest battery energy storage projects under the Australian Government’s Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) Tender 3, with the 250

Read More
ACEnergy and CATL partner on 3 GWh Utility-Scale BESS Portfolio

ACEnergy and CATL partner on 3 GWh Utility-Scale BESS Portfolio

ACEnergy has issued a Letter of Award (LOA) to Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) for the supply and integration service for three large-scale Battery

Read More
ACEN Australia project site and substation aerial view
Aerial view of ACEN Australia battery storage system.
ACEnergy and CATL partner on 3 GWh Utility-Scale BESS Portfolio

Newsletter

Stay up-to-date

Join our mailing list to get the latest on our projects and community updates.