Case Study
Birriwa Solar and Battery Project
600 MW solar farm coupled with 600 MW battery storage—a key component of NSW's Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.
Project Overview
The Birriwa project is a planned renewable energy park in New South Wales, comprising a 600 MW solar farm coupled with a 600 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
It was approved by the NSW Independent Planning Commission in August 2024—a significant milestone in ACEN Australia's 13 GW development pipeline. The Birriwa solar + battery will form a key part of the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, providing dispatchable clean power at a massive scale.
Key Metrics
- Solar Capacity: 600 MWac
- Battery Storage: 600 MW BESS
- REZ Location: Central-West Orana
- Pipeline Position: Part of 13 GW ACEN portfolio
My Role
In my capacity as Project Planning Manager, I drive the planning phase for Birriwa's transition from development into construction:
- Updating the project schedule to reflect design optimisations
- Securing additional land to expand capacity
- Aligning construction timeline with grid connection milestones
- Creating detailed work plans for solar PV installation and staged BESS deployment
Challenges & Solutions
Given the scale, a key challenge is phasing the works. I employ a phased delivery schedule that staggers solar farm sections and battery commissioning to efficiently ramp up construction.
Through effective problem-solving and stakeholder negotiation, I aim to set up Birriwa for success—delivering maximum benefit to ACEN (through optimised output) and to the client communities (through timely access to new clean energy).