​Q1 2026 delivered 70 MW of new BESS capacity across just two projects, both in New South Wales. That is the lowest quarterly addition since Q2 2024. However, quantity tells only part of the story. Both new projects mark firsts for the NEM. Limondale is the market's first eight-hour battery, signalling a structural shift in how developers think about duration. Meanwhile, Quorn Park is the first battery to go live registered as a true hybrid under AEMO's new Integrated Resource Provider framework.

An additional 3 GW of capacity across 12 projects now sits in commissioning, with 1.7 GW entering the commissioning phase during Q1 alone. In the next two quarters we expect to see a similar level of deployment to Q4 2025, which delivered a record 2.2 GW across 10 projects.

This article provides an update on battery energy storage deployment in the NEM, highlighting newly commissioned assets, trends in system size and duration, and what this means for our projection through to the end of 2029.

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Key takeaways

• Q1 2026 added 70 MW and 440 MWh of BESS capacity across two projects. This brings the NEM's live BESS fleet to 5,717 MW with an average duration of 2.1 hours.
• Limondale (50 MW / 400 MWh) is the NEM's first eight-hour BESS and the second LTESA-contracted battery to reach commercial operations.
• Quorn Park Solar Hybrid (20 MW / 40 MWh) is the NEM's first true hybrid, registered under AEMO's new IRP framework.
• 2,965 MW across 12 projects is currently in commissioning, 1.7 GW of which entered commissioning during Q1.
• New South Wales added both projects this quarter, but Queensland retains its lead in power capacity. But measured by energy storage capacity, NSW now leads.

What BESS projects came online in Q1 2026?

Two projects reached commercial operations in Q1 2026. Both are located in New South Wales and co-located with solar generation — but the similarities end there. Each represents a distinct first for the NEM.