Canadian Solar Inc. announced on Oct. 6, 2026 that e-STORAGE, its energy storage solutions business, has signed an agreement to supply and commission a 100 MW/200 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) for OX2's Muswellbrook Solar Farm and Battery, a solar-plus-storage project in New South Wales, Australia. Shipments are scheduled to begin in Q3 2027, with commercial operation targeted for Q3 2028.

The battery cells and SolBank system will be produced in-house at Canadian Solar's manufacturing facilities, which the company says gives the customer end-to-end supply chain visibility and ensures strict quality control across the product.

Scope of Supply

e-STORAGE will deliver an integrated solution built on SolBank 3.0 battery containers, paired with Power Conversion Systems (PCS), plant controls, and the company's proprietary EQ-S Energy Management System (EMS), developed and built in-house by e-STORAGE's North American software team.

Under the agreement, e-STORAGE will be responsible for the R1 grid connection studies, will supply the hybrid power plant controller that coordinates the battery with the co-located solar farm, and will lead the overall integration and commissioning of the hybrid project.

The arrangement is backed by a 20-year long-term service agreement (LTSA), placing hardware, proprietary software, and long-term performance under a single accountable partner.

Project Location and Regional Context

The project sits roughly 2.5 kilometers east of Muswellbrook, on land at a former coal mine within the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone. According to the announcement, the location is significant because, as the region's aging coal generators wind down toward retirement in the early 2030s, the dispatchable capacity they once provided must be replaced.

The two-hour storage system fills that gap directly, holding midday solar output and releasing it into the evening demand peak when supply from retiring thermal plants tightens.

Once operational, the system will support the long-term hybrid power purchase agreement OX2 has signed for the project, converting variable solar output into firm, contracted supply.

By storing and dispatching solar energy on demand, the BESS is intended to strengthen grid reliability in a region transitioning away from coal and help deliver firm renewable power to communities in the Hunter Region.

Executive Commentary

Steve Symons, Vice President of OX2 Australia, said: "This battery storage system is what turns Muswellbrook into a true hybrid facility — pairing solar generation with storage so we can capture energy when the sun is shining and deliver it when the grid needs it most. It's a key step in providing firm, reliable renewable power to the Hunter region."

Jeff Roy, President of e-STORAGE, said: "Australia's energy transition is being decided in regions like the Hunter, where storage now has to carry the load that retiring coal once did. We control this project from the cell through to our own energy management software and 20 years of service, which means OX2 has one partner accountable for how the system performs over its full life."

About the Companies

Canadian Solar, founded in 2001 and headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario, is one of the world's largest solar technology and renewable energy companies and has been publicly listed on NASDAQ since 2006. Over the past 25 years, the company has delivered nearly 180 GW of solar photovoltaic modules to customers worldwide.

Through e-STORAGE, Canadian Solar has shipped over 23 GWh of battery energy storage solutions to global markets and held a contracted backlog of $3.5 billion as of June 30, 2026.

Since entering the project development business in 2010, Canadian Solar has developed, built, and connected approximately 12.4 GWp of solar power projects and 6.4 GWh of battery energy storage projects globally. Its project development pipeline includes approximately 22 GWp of solar and 84 GWh of battery energy storage capacity in various stages of development.

e-STORAGE, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar, specializes in designing, manufacturing, and integrating battery energy storage systems for utility-scale applications. Its offerings span battery cells, battery PACKs, power conversion systems, energy management systems, and system integration, along with comprehensive EPC services and full-lifecycle station operation and asset management.

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