Australia's First Super Battery Shows Storage Benefits For Handling Rooftop Solar Generation

News of solar curtailment, specifically in Rajasthan, India's largest state by installed solar capacity has reached a head this month, as curtailment numbers spiked. The issue, which has been recurring since March this year, has been linked to a better than expected monsoons and lower  power demand, besides significant transmission related issues.  The curtailment numbers follow a period when spot power prices on IEX hit zero multiple times from May 2025 due to unseasonal rains, lower demand, and surplus supply. With average real time market (RTM) price dropping almost 30% YoY during the same period.  Reports quote NSEFI's Subrahmanyam Pulipaka saying that, since March, about 3-4 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity has been curtailed in Rajasthan, causing losses to the industry of up to Rs 250 crore to date. The curtailments have affected newer projects more so far, raising questions on the impending capacity additions under various initiatives, from PM Suryaghar to PMKUSUM. Battery storage, seen as a critical need to manage such oversupply situations, has not really kept pace so far, even though tendered and awarded capacity piles up. 

Australia Launches Yet Another Big Battery 

The problem is not unexpected, and the solutions have been known for some time, besides the obvious need to build quality  transmission faster to allow power to be moved more efficiently elsewhere. But from a storage point of view, Australia has just launched its first big battery at over 2 GWh of storage to tackle precisely this issue. The latest battery wiull go further than most till now in ensuring lower curtailment from rooftop solar owners in particular.   

The Collie battery owned by Neoen Australia and located in Western Australia, was sized at 560 megawatts (MW) and 2,240 megawatt hours (MWh) over its two stages, the first of which was completed last year. Now, the battery is set to deliver on its “solar soaker” contracts. The battery will provide strong protection against any curtailment risk for many solar genertors, including a large cohort of rooftop solar owners. 

The new Collie battery takes storage to a whole new scale in Australia, where a wildly successful solar rooftop program that covers almost 30% of houses created long period of excess generation and curtailment in states like South Australia in particular. With 40 per cent more storage capacity than the Waratah Super Battery (850 MW and 1680 MWh) that had just recently  become the biggest battery after dethroning the 350 MW Victoria BESS.

Multiple Large Battery Projects Coming On Stream

However, even Collie will be overtaken by the 700 MW, 2,800 MWh Eraring battery by 2027, indicating just how successful the battery experience has been for the Australian grid.  By 2028, at least 5 more 2 GWh plus batteries will be operational in Australia, providing a powerful counterwight to high solar generation, and finally ensuring the kind of price stability renewables look capable of providing now. 

Battery charging is reportedly accounting for up to 17 per cent of demand by noon in Australia, besides  frequently delivering around 18 per cent of supply in the evening peaks. Energy research firm Rystad Energy has projected that 1.6 GW/6 GWh of battery capacity will be operational in Western Australia’s main grid by the end of 2025, before doubling again to more than 3 GW/11 GWh by the end of 2029. 

Battery projects have also stood out for their fast commissioming phase, with some key projects moving from start to commissioming in less than six months. It's a template being replicated in Saudi Arabia as  we have tracked recently, where available battery storage is set to move from almost nothing to almost 35 GWh by 2027. However, a bankruptcy filing by Powin Energy, a key supplier at projects lik the Waratah Project, has delayed that project by a  few months. Powin had filed for bankruptcy protection in June due to ucertainty over tax credits and higher import tariffs by the Trump Administration. 

India's Battery Ambitions

While India has ackowledged the need for energy storage to balance the grid, actual progress remains slow, and the pace is expected to pick up only in 2026. The CEA projects 336.4 GWh storage by 2029-30 - 208.25 GWh from BESS; 128.15 GWh from PSP. For now, one has to say that both these targets are at risk due to procedural delays. Consider how even by 2027, India is only expected to move to 1.6 GWH of BESS storage. Over 7.6 GW have been awarded so far, with most covered by co-located solar and BESS.
A good move has been the governments second  VGF scheme that will support 4,000 MWh of BESS with up to 40% capex support (approvals 2023-26; disbursals to 2030-31). Planned projects like SECI’s 1,000 MW/2,000 MWh standalone BESS tender + co-located storage indicates awareness of the need to move faster. 

The country's key Renewable agencies also need to protect against significant project delays or cancellations going forward, as these will have a much higher cost of delay if we consider the experience this year. Any drop in power demand, or an economic slowdown will risk placing significant renewable capacity at risk financially, hitting future bids. Targeted reforms across states that ensure power is ot only delivered but billed more efficiently will be key to allowing for future renewables and battery expension.