Australian renewable energy developer Atmos Renewables has started construction of the 470MW Parron Maam Marang wind farm in Western Australia, marking a significant step forward for the country’s renewable energy sector.
Located near Badgingarra, approximately 200 kilometres north of Perth, the project will feature 78 Vestas V162-6.2MW wind turbines across around 8,400 hectares of agricultural land.
Once operational, the wind farm is expected to generate enough electricity to match the annual consumption of approximately 350,000 households. Commercial operations are targeted for late 2028.
The project has secured revenue support through Australia’s Capacity Investment Scheme, alongside a long-term electricity purchase agreement with Synergy.
Construction is expected to create substantial employment opportunities, with the workforce potentially reaching 400 people at its peak.
Foresight and Belltown Power target 500MW of UK wind repowering
Investment manager Foresight Group and renewable energy developer Belltown Power have expanded their joint venture, targeting at least 500MW of onshore wind repowering projects in the United Kingdom.
Announced on 26 October 2026, the initiative will initially focus on five existing wind assets with a combined operating capacity of approximately 125MW. These include the Bowbeat and Cruach Mhor wind farms in Scotland, alongside three additional sites in southern Scotland and England.
Repowering involves replacing older turbines with fewer, larger and more efficient machines. This approach can help existing wind farm sites make better use of available infrastructure and modern turbine technology.
The companies also intend to assess further development opportunities in England and Wales.
The expanded venture brings together Foresight Group’s investment capabilities and Belltown Power’s project development expertise, with the aim of increasing the contribution of onshore wind to the UK’s renewable energy capacity.
RES secures approval for 120MW battery storage project in Northern Ireland
Renewable energy developer RES has secured planning approval for the 120MW/480MWh Ballyross battery energy storage project in Northern Ireland.
The four-hour battery facility received consent from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee on 26 October 2026. It will be located near the existing Ballyvallagh electricity substation, approximately two kilometres south-west of Gleno.
Its proximity to the substation is intended to reduce the need for additional grid connection infrastructure.
Once developed, the facility will store electricity during periods of high renewable generation and release it when demand increases. Battery storage can help balance fluctuations in electricity supply and demand, supporting the integration of renewable sources into the wider energy system.
Construction is expected to take approximately 20 months, although a start date has not yet been announced.
Ballyross represents RES’s first consented battery storage project in Northern Ireland, adding another development to the region’s energy storage pipeline.
Source: GreentechLead.
Image: GreentechLead.