APAC BESS daily brief · 20 Oct 2026
Japan · Project BriefeREX starts commercial operation of 2 MW/8 MWh Chiba battery
eREX began commercial operation of its second grid-scale battery in Shibayama, Chiba (1,989.6 kW/8,147 kWh, LFP) and targets 100 MW of managed capacity by 2028. View: small high-voltage assets are too small for standalone PF and are more likely financed as portfolios.
Project
- Its first project began operating in April; eREX acts as aggregator for balancing and frequency services.
Financing
- Financing not publicly disclosed.
Policy
Sources: 財経新聞
Australia · Project BriefHazelwood BESS expansion clears transmission step, set to double site capacity
Victoria declared Hazelwood BESS Line Co a Declared Transmission System Operator on 16 October, letting ENGIE's 150 MW/300 MWh expansion use existing transmission at the site and moving it closer to financial close. View: reusing retired coal-plant grid access is a key way to shorten connection timelines.
Project
- Existing 150 MW/150 MWh (online June 2023); expansion 150 MW/300 MWh; combined 300 MW/450 MWh.
- Site: former Hazelwood power station, Latrobe Valley, Victoria; completion expected 2028.
Financing
- Financial close date, project cost and battery supplier not publicly disclosed.
Policy
- Declared Transmission System Operator status granted by Victoria on 16 October.
Sources: Energy-Storage.News
Australia · Project Finance BriefAkaysha closes A$1.75bn portfolio refinancing with 11 banks
Akaysha Energy closed a A$1.75bn portfolio-level financing for four Australian BESS assets, with five-, seven- and 10-year tranches plus revolving liquidity and contingent instrument facilities. View: the move from single-asset to platform financing marks a maturing capital structure for Australian storage.
Project
- Covers Orana 415 MW/1,660 MWh (operating), Elaine 311 MW/1,244 MWh (under construction, 2H 2027), Brendale 205 MW/410 MWh (operating) and Ulinda Park phase 1 155 MW/298 MWh (operating).
- Use: refinance the four projects' debt and support a ~6 GW/25 GWh pipeline.
Financing
- Lenders: ANZ, CBA, BNP Paribas, Bank of China, CIBC, Deutsche Bank, DNB, ING, Mizuho, MUFG, Rabobank.
- Tranche split and pricing not publicly disclosed.
Policy
- Orana holds CIS revenue underwriting (see project database).
Sources: Energy-Storage.News