Allens has advised ENGIE on all aspects of its procurement of the Pelican Point Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a major project that will strengthen South Australia’s energy infrastructure and support the transition to renewables.
Once operational, Pelican Point BESS will have the capacity to store up to 400MWh of energy – enough to supply electricity to more than 29,000 average South Australian households. The system will capture excess energy from rooftop solar and other renewable sources during periods of low demand and release energy back to the grid at peak times, helping to deliver grid stability for South Australia.
'The Pelican Point BESS is a significant step forward in South Australia’s energy transition. It will not only increase the state’s energy capacity but also enhance grid stability, and enable greater integration of renewable resources,' said Partner and Projects Practice Lead David Donnelly.
‘We were pleased to work with Allens on procurement for our Pelican Point Battery, which will deliver capacity and flexibility to the electricity grid and allow us to capture more of the excess solar energy on mild, sunny days,’ said ENGIE Australia’s Head of Portfolio Growth & Commercial, Anna Hedgcock.
The transaction involved extensive cross-practice collaboration led by Allens' Projects team and supported by experts from the firm's real estate, environment and planning, banking and finance and corporate practices. Allens worked closely with ENGIE’s legal, commercial and technical teams and coordinated with Linklaters to deliver the project efficiently.
Construction on the project commenced in November 2025 and it is expected to be operational by late 2027.
Allens legal team
Projects
David Donnelly (lead Partner), Kate Axup (Partner), Ben van Weel (Managing Associate), Tom Mathews (Senior Associate), Naomi Graham (Senior Associate), Jeanne Shu (Associate), Julia Arrighi (Associate), Christine Zhong (Laywer), Harriette Singh (Laywer)
Property
Michael Graves (Partner), Tina Tran (Senior Associate), Madeleine Andreopolous (Laywer)
Environment & Planning
Jillian Button (Partner), Isabella Satz (Associate)
Banking & Finance
Tristan Kelly (Managing Associate), Naomi Lee (Senior Associate), Madeleine Ninkov (Associate)
Corporate
Andrew Wong (Counsel)