Rayo 5MW BESS Programme — South Australia (20+ Sites)

Client

Arellis Energy

Location

South Australia — 20+ sites across the state

Project Duration

Early Procurement 2026; Construction & Commissioning rollout 2027–2028

Sector

Distribution-connected renewable — battery energy storage (BESS)

Rayo Entity

Rayo Manages development, construction and maintenance of these community BESS’s

Network

SA Power Networks (SAPN) distribution network — 33 kV

Rayo is delivering a standardised fleet of around 20 battery energy storage systems across South Australia — each ≤5 MW / 4-hour (≈20 MWh), connected at 33 kV to the SA Power Networks distribution network. Stage 1 is deliberately engineered for repeatability and is the template for a national build-out to follow.

The programme is delivered end-to-end within Rayo’s integrated model: Shift Energy originates and matures each site (land, connection, planning, offtake), Rayo Construction Services self-performs the engineering, civil, electrical, HV testing, commissioning and grid connection, and Rayo Maintenance Services operates the fleet. A single accountable partner across develop–build–operate removes the interface risk that typically erodes value in distributed BESS programmes.

The Client

This is a Rayo Group programme, originated by its development arm, Shift Energy. Shift Energy secures the land tenure, network connection, planning approval and offtake structuring that turn a site into a buildable, revenue-generating asset.

The market challenge is clear: distributed, distribution-connected storage is needed at scale, but delivering many small BESS assets one-off is slow and expensive. Rayo’s answer is a programmatic model — a common footprint, single-line diagram, balance-of-plant scope and technical specification repeated across every site — that compresses cost and schedule while holding quality constant.

The Scope

Each site is a ≤5 MW / 4-hour (≈20 MWh) BESS (LFP preferred) connecting to the SAPN distribution network at 33 kV. Across 20 sites the programme is engineered as one repeatable product: common site footprint, common single-line diagram, common balance-of-plant scope and a common technical specification.

Equipment (BESS/BMS, PCS, MV transformer, 33 kV switchgear, SCADA) is procured under a framework RFP with site-by-site call-offs and 5- and 10-site pricing tiers. All site works, installation, HV testing and grid connection are self-performed by Rayo Construction Services — keeping delivery risk and quality in-house rather than sub-let.

Key Elements

Development origination — land tenure, SAPN connection, planning approval and offtake structuring per site
Standardised engineering — common single-line diagram, site footprint, balance-of-plant scope and technical specification across the fleet
Framework equipment procurement — BESS, PCS, MV transformer, 33 kV switchgear and SCADA, with site-by-site call-offs and volume pricing tiers
Self-performed construction — foundations, MV/LV installation, terminations and balance of plant
HV testing, commissioning and grid connection to the SAPN 33 kV network

Project Specifications

SA Stage 1 fleet

20+ sites

Per site (≈20 MWh)

≤5 MW / 4-hr

SAPN connection

33 kV

Construction rollout

2027–2028

The Delivery

Approach & execution

Rayo built the programme as a repeatable product rather than a series of one-off projects: standardising the design, footprint and specification once, then rolling these site-by-site with call-off procurement and a phased construction sequence (sites delivered in pairs/small groups across 2027–2028).

Delivery is fully self-performed and integrated withing Rayo, providing a single accountable line accross the asset lifecycle- From development through construction, commissioning and long term maintenance- while reducing multiple contractors interface risk.

The commercial model uses a long-term procurement framework with preferred suppliers, positioning the Stage 1 fleet as the template for a subsequent national build-out.

The construction phase follows a common safety and quality frameworks across the fleet, with standarised work packs, inspections and test plans, commissioning procedures applied at every site by Rayo’s own crews. Testing, commissioning and grid connections are performed by in-house teams in accordance with SA Power Networks and NER requirements. This repeatable approach maintains consistent delivery standards as the programme scales.

What Rayo delivered

Standardised programme defined and engineered for repeatability — common footprint, single-line diagram, balance-of-plant scope and technical specification across 20+ SA sites
Framework equipment procurement RFP issued to market (Aug 2026) with 5- and 10-site pricing tiers, establishing preferred-supplier partnerships for the rollout
Construction and commissioning will be performed by Rayo Group

Why Rayo?

Rayo is one of the few Australian businesses that can take a distributed BESS programme the full distance — origination, development, self-performed construction and long-term operation — under one roof. For a fleet of small, distribution-connected assets, that integration is the value: it removes the interface seams where cost and time usually leak.

The South Australian 5 MW BESS Programme shows that model at work — a standardised, repeatable product engineered for scale, and the template Rayo intends to roll out nationally.

Technical depth

End-to-end BESS capability — development, standardised engineering, self-performed civil/electrical construction, HV testing and grid connection — with a common, repeatable technical specification proven across a multi-site SA fleet.

Delivery discipline

A programmatic, self-perform delivery model: standardise once, roll out site-by-site with framework procurement and phased construction — compressing cost and schedule while holding quality and safety constant across every site.

Team & experience

Rayo’s integrated team is led by senior development, engineering, construction and operations professionals with extensive experience across Australia’s Tier 1 contracting and infrastructure market.

Safety & compliance

ISO-certified management systems (ISO 9001 / 14001 / 45001) applied across development, construction and operations, with self-performed HV testing and commissioning to SAPN and NER requirements.