Yanco Delta Wind Farm and Battery Storage System

Origin Energy has been actively pursuing approvals for its Yanco Delta Wind Farm, a significant wind-plus-storage project in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Here’s a detailed overview of the project and its current status regarding EPBC Act approval:

Yanco Delta Wind Farm Overview

• Capacity: The project comprises a 1.5 GW wind farm and an 800 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS)17.

• Location: Situated on a 33,000-hectare site near Jerilderie in the NSW South-West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), adjacent to key transmission infrastructure17.

• Acquisition: Origin Energy acquired the project from Virya Energy in April 2024 for up to A$300 million, contingent on development milestones37.

EPBC Act Approval Status

• The project received EPBC Act approval in February 2024, following NSW government development approval in December 202317.

• The EPBC approval was granted after assessing environmental impacts, including potential effects on local ecosystems and threatened species7.

• Origin has since focused on post-approval studies, community engagement, and securing grid connection rights14.

Recent Developments and Grid Access

• In April 2025, Yanco Delta was granted full grid access rights (1.5 GW) in the South-West REZ, making it one of the few projects to receive its full proposed capacity allocation4.

• The project is expected to begin construction in 2025–2026, with completion targeted for 2027–20293.

• Once operational, it will help replace retiring coal-fired power plants in NSW, potentially avoiding 3.3–4.5 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually3.

Challenges and Next Steps

• Transmission Constraints: The South-West REZ faces limitations due to its 330 kV transmission line (instead of 500 kV), which restricts total capacity. This has led to some competing projects being scaled back4.

• Community and Landowner Engagement: Origin is working with local stakeholders to address concerns and ensure coexistence with agricultural operations1.

• Final Investment Decision (FID): Pending further technical and commercial assessments, including contracting for construction and offtake agreements7.

Conclusion

Origin’s Yanco Delta project is one of Australia’s most advanced wind-plus-storage developments, with key approvals secured. The next phases involve finalizing grid connections, construction contracts, and financing before proceeding to build. For further details, refer to Origin’s project page or Renew Economy’s coverage14.