NRMA EV Charging Team Overnight Crane 9 Tonne Battery To Enable Crows Nest DC Fast Charger Site

NRMA Energy has successfully overnight craned three massive 3 tonne Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at its Crows Nest fast charging site, offering a rare glimpse into the substantial upfront costs required to establish high-powered multi-bay DC electric vehicle charging infrastructure in grid-constrained locations.

Image by - Ian Cosgrove (NRMA Energy)

The complex overnight operation required a 60-tonne crane, road closures and significant structural steel works to position the battery systems, each weighing approximately three tonnes.

The precision lift commenced at 10pm on Sunday and concluded at 4:30am Monday morning.

"After months of planning, we've successfully landed the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for our Crows Nest site – a major milestone for the project," remarked Ian Cosgrove, Head of Capital Works and Network Operations at NRMA Energy. "A huge team effort to make this complex night lift a success."

The installation represents a significant milestone for NSW Fast Charging Grant Round 2, highlighting the engineering challenges and substantial capital investment required when establishing ultra-fast charging sites in locations where grid capacity is limited.

Battery storage systems allow operators to deliver high-powered charging without overwhelming local electrical infrastructure.

Site Specifications

ABB Terra 360 Ultra Fast Charger Single 360kW charging capability

ABB Terra 184 Ultra Fast Chargers Three units delivering 180kW each

EVO Power Battery Energy Storage System 300kW power output with 750kWh capacity

The battery storage component addresses a key challenge facing Australia's expanding EV charging network.

Many key locations for charging hubs lack sufficient grid connection capacity to support multiple ultra-fast chargers operating simultaneously without costly electrical upgrades.

Industry experts estimate that establishing a comparable multi-bay ultra-fast charging site with battery storage would cost quite a few hundred thousand dollars, depending on location complexity and grid connection requirements.

The overnight installation methodology reflects the operational constraints of working in urban environments where daytime traffic disruption must be minimised.

The Crows Nest site forms part of the NSW Government's Fast Charging Grant Program Round 2, designed to accelerate the deployment of public EV charging infrastructure across strategic locations.

Battery-backed charging sites represent an increasingly common solution for operators seeking to maximise charging speeds while managing grid connection costs.

Once activated this new NRMA Fast Charging location at Crows Nest will add significant ultra-fast charging capacity to Sydney's North Shore corridor.