Engineering and construction company UGL has commenced construction work at Neoen’s Muchea Battery project in Western Australia (WA), marking the start of site works for the company’s first six-hour long-duration storage project using Tesla Megapacks batteries under a Tesla EPC-led delivery.

The stand-alone asset is designed for 164MW/905 megawatt-hours (MWh) and will connect to Western Power’s network via the adjacent Muchea substation.

Early works include upgrading a 1.3km access road and setting up the main laydown area, improving site access and allowing the project to move into bulk civil works.

UGL reported steady growth in the on-site workforce and said additional teams will mobilise for civil foundations, electrical works, battery installation and commissioning as the schedule progresses.

The project team has focused on approvals for work within the gas pipeline corridor and the road reserve.

UGL cited collaboration with the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline team, the Shire of Chittering and Main Roads WA to support compliance and ongoing construction.

Major civil works are expected to be completed in the coming months, ahead of the delivery of Tesla Megapack batteries and related infrastructure.

The project is located around 2km north of Muchea and roughly 43km north-east of Perth, within the Shire of Chittering. It occupies a single freehold site on Byrne Road spanning approximately five hectares.

The Muchea Battery facility will supply peak demand capacity and provide grid stability and reliability services to support the integration of additional renewable energy.

UGL project manager Sandeep Kamath said: “Muchea is an important project for the state, our client and our partners. From day one, we have focused on building a strong safety culture, working closely with stakeholders and delivering high-quality outcomes.

“This project shows what can be achieved through planning, teamwork and a shared commitment to excellence.”

UGL says its national battery portfolio includes 3.6 gigawatt-hours (GWh) installed and commissioned across 13 solar farms, 2.15GWh under construction, and eight batteries delivered, including the Western Downs Battery, with three battery projects currently under way.

In July 2025, UGL won a $114m (A$161.78m) contract to support Western Power’s energy transition programme.

The work formed part of the WA Government-funded Clean Energy Link-North project, which aimed to enable large-scale renewable energy generation.