Victoria Bypasses Red Tape: 700 MWh Battery Project Approved In Record Time

In a blisteringly fast approval process, Victoria’s government has rammed through plans for a massive 350 MW battery storage system near Little River. The approval took just nine weeks under the state’s Development Facilitation Program. Nine weeks! Normal folks wait 18 months for much smaller projects. But when it’s “clean energy,” the rules suddenly bend.

The battery project, spanning 18 hectares about 45 km southwest of Melbourne, will connect directly to existing 220 kV transmission lines. Convenient. ACEnergy, the Victoria-based company behind this $350 million AUD behemoth, must have friends in high places.

They’re selling it as some kind of grid savior. The battery will supposedly provide frequency regulation and help manage peak loads. It’ll store excess energy when nobody needs it, then sell it back when demand is high. Classic.

Construction jobs? A measly 55 positions. That’s a lot of government fast-tracking for not many jobs. Sure, they’ve promised $1.5 million for “community initiatives” over 20 years. Do the math—that’s peanuts compared to the project cost.

The site selection raises eyebrows too. They picked a spot next to a quarry, claiming it “minimizes environmental impact.” But locals aren’t buying it. Some community members have voiced serious concerns about land use and fire risks. This is fire-prone territory, folks. Remember that.

Victoria’s planning minister is touting this as part of some grand strategy for “clean energy conversion.” It follows other battery projects getting the VIP treatment from the government. The Victorian Big Battery (300 MW) already exists—apparently one giant battery wasn’t enough. Despite battery storage costs dropping 33% in 2024, taxpayers will still foot a hefty bill for these projects. The project supports Victoria’s ambitious energy storage targets of 2.6 GW by 2030 and 6.3 GW by 2035.

Construction will start within the year, with the Australian Energy Market Operator already rolling out the red carpet with a connection offer. This project joins Elgin Energy’s 500MWh Barwon Solar Farm that was also fast-tracked under the same initiative. Meanwhile, regular Victorians wait months for simple permits. Typical government priorities—green dreams over practical realities. Welcome to the new normal.