The NSW Government is embarking on a groundbreaking project to repurpose the old Belrose landfill site into a state-of-the-art Battery Energy Storage System with a capacity of up to 14.2 MW.
Given the average NSW home uses about 6,500 to 7,000 kWh annually, this capacity could theoretically power around 17,800 to 19,200 homes for a year, if it were all used to power homes.
Improving grid stability
This new facility will help keep the electricity grid stable and support the grid during peak demand. It will also improve local power quality by enabling the supply of renewable energy when fossil fuel sources would normally dominate the grid supply.
For residents across NSW, this means more reliable electricity and potentially lower energy costs.
From a wasted asset to a revenue source
Once landfill sites are closed, they have very few uses. They are capped and need regular maintenance, emitting methane gas as organic waste decomposes, and providing little economic or practical value.
The Belrose site was used to generate electricity from this methane gas until 2022. Today, the remnant methane is still captured but flared into the atmosphere.
NSW Waste Asset Management Corporation is leasing the Belrose site to a private developer through a competitive tender process. The developer will oversee the construction, operation and maintenance of the Battery Energy Storage System.
Revenue from this lease will cover methane flaring costs and fund the rehabilitation of other closed landfills across NSW.
The Belrose project shows how the NSW Government, NSW Waste Asset Management Corporation, technical experts, and private developers are working together to reuse government land for renewable energy.
Next steps
The NSW government has made their decision on the Belrose developer. The awarding of the contract in 2024–25 will be a significant step toward a cleaner and more affordable energy future for NSW.
The initiative is part of the Renewable Energy Infrastructure Investment program, which aims to convert about 190,000 ha of unused government land into renewable energy projects that will help support a cleaner economy.
This approach addresses environmental concerns while creating local job opportunities and stimulating local economic growth by developing new skills in the renewable energy sector.
It shows how unused, unproductive government land can be turned into valuable community resources while advancing our net zero goals.