Wärtsilä will supply a 64MW/128 megawatt hour (MWh) energy storage system for Octopus Australia’s Fulham solar battery hybrid project.
The project, one of Australia’s first large-scale direct current (DC)-coupled hybrid battery systems, pairs a 128MWh DC-coupled battery with an 80MW alternating current solar farm – a significant step in Australia’s transition to co-located hybrid renewable energy and storage solutions.
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The Fulham project secured generator performance standards (GPS) approval in June 2024, highlighting a growing trend toward integrating renewable energy and storage to support grid stability.
This is Wärtsilä’s first collaboration with Octopus Australia, a subsidiary of Octopus Group, demonstrating the value of DC-coupled technology at scale.
Securing GPS approval was crucial for the successful design and approval of the innovative system, with Wärtsilä’s GEMS power plant controller (PPC) technology playing a central role.
Wärtsilä’s GEMS software will manage the integration of the energy storage system and solar assets with the grid’s connection requirements.
The GEMS hybrid PPC ensures coordination between the solar farm and storage system, conducting intelligent power control and optimised energy management operations.
This ensures the project meets grid requirements, charges and discharges the battery appropriately, and maximises project value.
The project will utilise Wärtsilä’s quantum high energy storage technology, known for its advanced safety features and enhanced energy density.
Construction has commenced, with completion expected in 2027. Wärtsilä will also provide a long-term service agreement to ensure continued performance and reliability.
On 9 April 2025, Wärtsilä representatives, along with members of the Victorian state government, Octopus Australia and other stakeholders, attended the ground-breaking ceremony at the project site.
In October 2024, Wärtsilä also secured a contract to deliver a 150MW battery energy storage system to Amp Energy in South Australia.
The standalone system, with 300MWh capacity, aims to bolster energy security and reliability amid South Australia’s increasing reliance on renewable energy sources.
The Bungama battery energy storage system project, currently in its first stage, will also utilise Wärtsilä’s quantum high-energy storage technology.
