We are proposing to build the Middle Hut BESS, a utility-scale lithium-ion battery, on-site switching station, and ancillary infrastructure, on Middle Hut Road, Doreen on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country. 

At this stage, the size of the BESS is yet to be finalised, but is currently expected to be approximately 290 MW / 1160 MWh. The Middle Hut BESS is expected to connect into the existing 220kV transmission line that bisects the site via an underground connection. 

Middle Hut BESS is being developed by Turnbull Renewables and BZ Renewables, with Cogency Australia leading community and stakeholder engagement on behalf of the project team. 

Turnbull Renewables is an Australian-based developer with a track record delivering wind, solar and storage projects nationally. It was founded in 2023 by Lucy Turnbull AO, former Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney, and Malcolm Turnbull AC, former Prime Minister of Australia. Turnbull Renewables specialises in the development of wind, solar and energy storage projects, with involvement spanning the full project lifecycle, from site selection and feasibility through to financing. 

BZ Renewables is an Australian owned and operated business developing a strategically located portfolio of renewable energy assets across regional Australia. BZ Renewables works closely with landowners, investors and key stakeholders to progress projects from initial land identification and pre-feasibility through concept, planning, design, financing, construction and generation. 

No, the Middle Hut BESS is not a data centre or part of a data centre project.

The Project will be limited to a battery energy storage system connected to the electricity grid.

A BESS is designed to store and release energy and provide support to stabilise the electricity grid. It helps balance energy supply and demand, supports grid stability, and stores energy from a variety of energy sources, including renewable sources. Battery storage is a critical enabler of the energy transition, designed to store and release energy and provide support to stabilise Victoria's electricity grid.  

Middle Hut BESS will store energy generated from the grid, including from renewable projects, and dispatch it during periods of high demand, helping to stabilise the electricity grid and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. 

A battery energy storage system is likely to include: BESS units, inverters and transformers, an on-site switching station and associated electrical infrastructure, internal access roads, landscaping, security fencing and monitoring systems, and other associated infrastructure required for safe operation. 

MW is an abbreviation for megawatts. It is the measurement of the rated power capacity of a BESS, being the total possible discharge capability starting from a fully charged state.  

MWh is an abbreviation for megawatt-hours and is how the storage duration of a BESS is measured. It is the amount of energy that can be stored in the BESS. 

While exact development footprint is yet to be finalised, it is expected to be around 14 Hectares.

Unlike renewable energy generation projects (wind and solar), BESS projects require much less land and don't carry the same risks of impact on wildlife, including birds and bats. We are working through concept designs which are informed by extensive technical assessments, to confirm the final development footprint.

The Middle Hut BESS will not use any external water for its operations.

Unlike data centres, BESS projects do not require external water supplies for cooling. Cooling is primarily achieved through fans (similar to an air conditioning unit).

There will be no impacts to local water supplies as a result of the Middle Hut BESS.

This site sits along the existing 330 kV and 220 kV high-voltage transmission lines, the backbone of Victoria's electricity network. Located approximately 30 km north-east of Melbourne's CBD, the site has been strategically chosen to store and dispatch energy close to metropolitan Melbourne, Victoria's major electricity use centre.  

This location avoids the need for new transmission lines, connecting directly into the existing 220kV line that bisects the site, reducing the project's environmental and visual impact. 

The site is one of the few along this transmission corridor within proximity of Melbourne with suitable environmental conditions to support a BESS, and is strategically located away from sensitive receptors, including residential dwellings. 

In operation, the Middle Hut BESS will not produce any greenhouse gasses.

Unlike data centres, BESS projects do not require backup diesel or gas generators, meaning there are no greenhouse gas emissions. The power for the cooling systems will come from the energy stored by the battery units.

BESS projects contribute to increasing the share of renewable energy in the electricity grid, reducing greenhouse emissions from coal/gas power stations.

The short answer is no. A BESS is energy-agnostic. The long answer is that a BESS supports renewable generation by balancing out supply and demand, and being an energy service provider (system security, balancing, optimisation, etc). While not a renewable energy technology itself, a BESS is an important element of the renewable energy transition. It can also participate in other markets for essential system services, such as frequency control, which help keep the grid operating in a safe and secure envelope. 

The battery will participate in the energy market, charging during times when there is excess renewable energy and low prices, and discharging that energy at times when demand on the grid is higher.  

Overall, having more low-cost renewable energy in the system, firmed by storage, will result in the lowest cost energy transition. 

The Project is in the planning and approvals phase, with extensive technical and environmental assessments currently underway to inform the design and support a planning permit application. 

Indicative timeline (subject to approvals): 

Early 2026: Feasibility 

June to July 2026: Technical assessments 

September 2026: Submit planning permit application 

End 2026: Planning decision by the Minister for Planning 

2027 (estimated): Grid connection approval and pre-construction 

2028 (estimated): Construction commences 

2029 (estimated): Operational 

2050 (estimated): Decommissioning 

The Project will also require other approvals, including for grid connection. 

The site is zoned Green Wedge Zone (GWZ) under the Nillumbik Planning Scheme.  

Yes, the site sits within a designated Bushfire Prone Area. We take this seriously and are committed to rigorous environmental assessment, transparent reporting, and design measures that protect existing environmental values. A dedicated fire/bushfire risk assessment forms part of the specialist studies supporting the planning application. 

BESS units are specifically designed to manage and mitigate fire risk and will include comprehensive safety features within both the hardware and software technology. The BESS is likely to use lithium-ion technology.  

While fires associated with BESS technology are rare, there are risks and hazards that need to be managed in their design, construction and operation. Lithium-ion batteries, if damaged or faulty, can experience a thermal runaway event which may result in a fire. Thermal runaway is an overheating of the battery cell, which results in a chemical reaction. This process occurs when the temperature within the battery cell exceeds a certain point, that is, the heat generated is greater than the heat that is dispersed.  

This battery system will be equipped with safety systems which continuously monitor, detect, isolate and alert operators to any potential anomalies, mitigating any risk of fires occurring or propagating between containers.  

A dedicated fire risk assessment forms part of the specialist studies supporting our planning application, prepared in accordance with the Design Guidelines and Model Requirements: Renewable Energy Facilities (CFA Guidelines), which set specific fire detection and protection requirements, including firefighting water supplies, detection and suppression systems, and bushfire protection measures.  

The project team is engaging with the CFA to discuss how the project can support local brigades. 

There will be some localised noise associated with construction and operation of the proposed BESS. During construction, anticipated noise will be associated with activities such as earth works, civil works and truck deliveries or movements, occurring during designated hours in line with the approved Construction Environmental Management Plan.  

During operations, the main source of noise is the inverters and cooling fans required to regulate battery cell temperature. The proposed BESS will be strategically positioned and designed to minimise noise exposure. A dedicated acoustic assessment forms part of the specialist studies supporting the planning application, to ensure the design and operation of the BESS is in line with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) noise guidelines and within applicable limits. 

The project will include landscaping on site boundaries to help screen the BESS from view. A dedicated landscape and visual assessment forms part of the specialist studies supporting the planning application, and the site design will prioritise minimal native vegetation clearing, with the BESS built primarily within existing agricultural paddocks. 

Throughout August and September, the project team will be meeting directly with neighbours and stakeholders to provide detailed information and receive feedback ahead of the planning application lodgement. 

Visit our Community and Consultation page for details of upcoming events and engagement. 

Infrastructure of this scale should deliver tangible benefits to the community that hosts it, and we want to hear from the community about what meaningful benefits look like for Nillumbik.  

Community benefit options may include local employment and apprenticeships during construction, community fund contributions, energy bill relief programs, or investment in local environmental projects aligned with the Biodiversity Strategy.  

We will be working with the community, Nillumbik Shire Council and the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (WWCHAC) - the Registered Aboriginal Party for this area - to design a Community Benefit Program that reflects local priorities and delivers meaningful, long-term outcomes for the area.  

Any community benefit commitments will be formalised and reported on publicly. Have an idea or project you'd like to see supported? We'd love to hear from you - Contact Us

Cobalt is used in some battery types, particularly those used in electric vehicles, and can be associated with human rights concerns. Those batteries are known as NMC, or Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt batteries. Utility-scale battery storage projects typically use LFP, or Lithium-Iron-Phosphate battery cells, which deliver the best operational performance and safety features, well suited for grid applications. 

It is anticipated that recycling will become available by the end of the project life due to the value of the metals in the batteries and the ability to re-purpose them into secondary markets, for example car and phone batteries. A decommissioning plan will be developed as a condition of the planning permit, currently indicated around 2050, subject to approvals. While there are no commercial-scale recycling efforts for BESS units yet, concerted efforts to create an onshore battery recycling industry are emerging in Australia.