Online Community Engagement Software

Rothbury Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

Project Overview

We are proposing a battery in Rothbury to add storage to the local electricity network. We're planning for the energy network of the future, now.

This battery will store 540MWh of energy - that's enough to power up to 36,450 Ausgrid households a day.

As we switch to renewable sources like solar and wind power, we need more energy storage to make sure we have power when the sun isn’t shining, and the wind isn’t blowing. This will mean we can provide our customers with more sustainable, more reliable and more affordable power.

NSW needs six times more energy storage before 2030. Projects like the RothburyBESS are important to help keep our electricity supply stable.

Where will the Rothbury BESS be located?

Ausgrid’s proposed BESS will be located at 1309 Wine Country Drive, Rothbury. If approved, the project will be built and operated by a third party.

BESS support the clean energy transition

The benefits of a BESS include:

  • Enabling more renewable energy
  • Reducing the need for new transmission lines
  • Local construction jobs
  • Improving grid stability and reliability
  • Enabling more affordable electricity

Learn more and share your feedback

We want to hear from the local community and answer any questions you might have. The feedback we get from this early consultation will help shape the project.

Contact our project team for more information.

  • Phone: 1800 574 044 - Monday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm
  • Email: batteries@ausgrid.com.au
  • Mail: Ausgrid BESS Project Team, GPO Box 487, Newcastle NSW 2300
  • Early 2025
    • Submit Scoping Report to NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Industry and request SEARS
    • Prepare Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
  • Mid 2025
    • Submit EIS to NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Industry
    • EIS Exhibition
  • Late 2025
    • Project determination
  • 2026
    • Start construction
  • Rothbury BESS Early Planning Survey

    We are engaging with local community and stakeholders to inform the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This helps us to better understand how a project may affect the environment and community. The feedback you provide will shape the project design.