Samsung C&T has secured the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for FRV Australia’s largest battery storage project.
The Gnarwarre Battery Energy Storage System [BESS] reached financial close on 4 August, financed under FRV’s 2024 portfolio facility.
The 250 MW/500 MWh facility in Victoria is designed to deliver grid-forming capability and firming services at scale.
Once operational, it will bring FRV’s total installed solar and storage capacity to about 1.4 GW. It follows the 100 MW/200 MWh Terang BESS currently under construction.
Samsung C&T will deliver the project as a “full-wrap” EPC contractor, providing vendor-agnostic, turnkey solutions.
The company said the contract “showcases our global capabilities in delivering complex, grid-critical energy infrastructure” and marks a “milestone moment” in its Australian market expansion.
The facility will integrate grid-forming inverter technology, enabling it to supply system strength and inertia services traditionally provided by synchronous generation such as coal and gas.
This functionality is a key focus of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA) Large-Scale Battery Storage Funding Round, which has granted AU$15 million to the Gnarwarre project.
Financing was secured from a syndicate including Westpac, United Overseas Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, KfW IPEX-Bank, and Export Development Canada.
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation supported the project during early financing stages before stepping aside when sufficient commercial funding was secured. Legal advisers were White & Case for FRV and Allens for the lenders.
FRV Australia CEO Carlo Frigerio said: “The financial close of Gnarwarre is a major step for FRV Australia as we expand our battery storage projects and strengthen our position as a leader in renewable energy in Australia. Large-scale storage like this is essential to provide firming capacity that supports a reliable and clean energy system. This project also helps the State of Victoria reach its ambitious renewable energy and net-zero targets.”
Once complete, Gnarwarre will join FRV’s growing portfolio of integrated generation and storage assets, which includes nine operating PV facilities across Australia and New Zealand and two large-scale batteries totalling 350 MW.