GenusPlus secures $160 million Victorian BESS contract at Wodonga
GenusPlus Group (ASX: GNP) has been awarded a contract valued at approximately $160 million to deliver a 400 MW / 1.86 GWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Wodonga, Victoria, for Birdwood Energy Reserve. Construction is scheduled for completion in late 2028. The award marks a significant addition to Genus’ growing portfolio of large-scale renewable energy and energy storage infrastructure projects.
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What Genus will deliver at Birdwood
Under the contract, Genus will deliver the Balance of Plant works, encompassing:
- Civil, structural and electrical infrastructure
- High-voltage connection assets
- Communications and control systems
- Testing and commissioning
This scope draws on Genus’ integrated capabilities across engineering, procurement, construction, and high-voltage infrastructure, positioning the company as an end-to-end delivery partner for utility-scale energy storage.
Understanding utility-scale battery energy storage — and why it matters
A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) captures electricity when supply exceeds demand and releases it when demand is highest. In the context of Australia’s electricity grid, this function is increasingly important as more power comes from renewable sources such as solar and wind, which generate electricity intermittently rather than on demand.
Two figures define the scale of a BESS project. Megawatts (MW) describes the rate at which the system can discharge power, while megawatt-hours (MWh) describes how much total energy it can store and deliver over time. At 400 MW / 1.86 GWh, the Birdwood project is capable of dispatching significant power to the grid for extended periods, helping to firm renewable supply when generation drops.
As Australia’s renewable energy penetration continues to grow, the need for grid-scale storage is structural rather than discretionary. For Genus, this dynamic translates into a sustained pipeline of large-scale BESS project opportunities, supporting long-term revenue visibility well beyond any single contract award.
A growing portfolio in Australia’s energy transition
The Birdwood contract builds on Genus’ established capability in delivering large-scale battery energy storage projects across Australia, further strengthening the company’s position as a provider of critical energy infrastructure. The award reflects a pattern of portfolio momentum in the renewable infrastructure segment rather than an isolated win.
The TasNetworks transmission build, a $750 million project running through to 2029, is one of the other large-scale infrastructure wins anchoring Genus’ multi-year revenue visibility alongside the Birdwood award.
Birdwood Energy Reserve is described in the announcement as a leading engineering-led renewable energy investment manager. Headquartered in Melbourne, with offices in London and Munich, Birdwood manages four investment vehicles and a diversified portfolio of approximately A$5 billion (€3.1 billion). Its investments span every Australian state and territory, as well as energy projects in key European markets including Germany and the United Kingdom. The institutional scale and geographic reach of the client signals a well-capitalised counterparty for Genus.
David Riches, Managing Director, GenusPlus Group
“This project is another significant milestone for Genus and demonstrates the strength of our capabilities in delivering the critical infrastructure required to support Australia’s energy transition. At 400 MW / 1.86 GWh, this is a substantial battery project that will play an important role in storing renewable energy and making it available when it is needed most. We are proud to be partnering with Birdwood to deliver this project and look forward to drawing on the depth of capability across the Genus Group to safely and successfully deliver the project over the next 18 months. Projects of this scale reinforce the growing role of energy storage within Australia’s electricity system and align strongly with Genus’ strategy to support the development of reliable, resilient and lower-cost energy infrastructure.”
| Detail | Specifics |
|---|---|
| Project | Birdwood Energy Reserve BESS |
| Location | Wodonga, Victoria |
| Contract Value | ~$160 million |
| Capacity | 400 MW / 1.86 GWh |
| Target Completion | Late 2028 |
What this means for GenusPlus investors
The Birdwood contract adds approximately $160 million in contracted revenue extending to late 2028, providing meaningful near-term visibility for Genus’ forward order book. The win confirms that Genus is actively competing and succeeding in the large-scale BESS segment specifically, not merely adjacent power infrastructure work.
Client quality is a relevant consideration here. Birdwood manages a portfolio of approximately A$5 billion in assets with institutional backing across multiple investment vehicles and international offices, reducing concerns around counterparty risk relative to smaller or less established developers.
The broader sector context supports continued deal flow. Australia’s energy transition is policy-supported and structurally driven by the retirement of ageing thermal generation and the rapid expansion of renewables. The demand for firming infrastructure such as grid-scale BESS is not dependent on a single policy cycle or discretionary capital decision.
Genus frames this award as part of a growing portfolio, and the language of the announcement supports that framing. For investors, the Birdwood contract reinforces an existing pattern of large-scale renewable infrastructure wins rather than signalling a new strategic direction.
For investors exploring how Genus financed and structured its expanded capabilities, our full explainer on the MPK acquisition completion covers the capital structure, funding sources, and service additions that took effect from 1 July 2026 when the deal formally closed.
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