Two major energy storage projects, each with a capacity of 550MW and 2.2GWh, have been approved.

On November 3, 2025, the Victorian Government of Australia officially approved two large-scale energy storage projects through the Development Facilitation Programme (DFP) fast-track approval process. These projects represent a total storage capacity of 2200 MWh and a combined investment of approximately AUD 1.2 billion (USD 780 million), injecting new momentum into the state's grid stability and renewable energy integration.

The two approved projects are led by Eku Energy and Energy Vault, respectively, and cover both "pure energy storage" and "integrated photovoltaic and energy storage" models, balancing grid service with efficient land use.

Eco Energy's Tramway Road Battery Storage System (BESS) boasts a capacity of 300MW/1200MWh, located north of Hazelwood—adjacent to the company's existing 150MW/150MWh Hazelwood energy storage project. It can be directly connected to the existing transmission network, providing 4 hours of continuous energy storage service. This will allow it to participate in ancillary services in Australia's National Electricity Market (NEM) and support the integration of wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources in the southeast region.

As a joint venture between Macquarie Asset Management and British Columbia Investment Management, Eco Energy plans to achieve a global energy storage capacity of 9GWh by 2028. This project further solidifies its presence in the Australian market.

Another project, the Meadow Creek Solar Farm, innovatively adopts an "agricultural-solar complementary" model: a 332MW photovoltaic power plant is paired with a 250MW/1000MWh battery system, occupying 400 hectares of agricultural land, preserving ground-based agricultural operations while generating electricity. The project, spearheaded by Energy Dome, represents a doubling of the approved capacity compared to the 250MW/500MWh storage capacity initially announced in 2022. This new capacity will provide additional stability support to the northeastern Victorian power grid during peak electricity demand periods.

The rapid implementation of these two projects is attributed to the improved mechanisms of Victoria's Development Facilitation Scheme. According to the state government, previously, renewable energy projects required approval from civil and administrative courts, resulting in delays of approximately 20% of projects by nearly two years. Since the scheme expanded its coverage to renewable energy last year, it has attracted 22 projects with over A$7.8 billion in investment, significantly shortening the project approval cycle.

Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D'Ambrosio, stated that the fast-track approval process not only unlocks clean energy investment but will also bring cheaper electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes, "a key measure in balancing energy security, cost, and emissions reduction targets."

It is noteworthy that this is not the first energy storage project initiated in Victoria through this scheme. In recent months, Trina Solar's 500MW/1000MWh Kiva Valley energy storage project and ACEnergy's 350MW/770MWh Xiaohe energy storage project have both been approved through this channel, demonstrating a clear trend of the state accelerating the layout of energy storage infrastructure.