Hitachi Energy’s HMAX Energy service solutions strengthen long-term reliability for Akaysha Energy’s Ulinda Park BESS

Hitachi Energy has successfully delivered and is now supporting the Ulinda Park battery energy storage system (BESS) in Queensland, Australia, through the supply of power converters and a new HMAX™ Energy service agreement. Developed and operated by Akaysha Energy, the 155 megawatt (MW) / 298 MWh project is designed to support grid stability, firm renewable generation, and participate in Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM), including Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS).

The coming decades will place new demands on the global electricity system, as power becomes the foundation for economic growth, AI, digitalization, and the clean energy transition. As Australia’s grid evolves to integrate renewable energy at scale, maintaining long-term reliability has become a key constraint on system growth.

Located in Queensland’s Western Downs region, Ulinda Park operates in one of Australia’s most demanding electricity environments. As the energy system becomes more dynamic and decentralized, maintaining availability, fast response, and regulatory compliance throughout the full lifecycle is critical.

With proven expertise gained from some of the world's most challenging BESS deployments, Hitachi Energy first delivered a complete technical solution for Ulinda Park: power conversion, control technology, factory testing, commissioning, and regulatory integration support required to enable successful entry into the NEM.

To sustain performance and reliability, Akaysha Energy entered into a 20-year long‑term service agreement (LTSA) with Hitachi Energy. Delivered as part of the HMAX Energy suite, including IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity across assets, the agreement future-proofs Ulinda Park into a software‑enabled, performance‑managed system that contributes to the stability and reliability of Queensland’s electricity system.

Through these type of service agreements, Hitachi Energy enables customers to plan, predict, and prevent operational disruptions by combining long-term planning with continuous monitoring, predictive insights, and preventive maintenance, supported by 24/7 remote and on-site expertise. As AI becomes more integrated with physical assets, it also becomes part of the service offering.

The agreement also establishes clear accountability for performance and availability across the full asset lifecycle. AI-enabled support solutions strengthen the ability to predict potential issues before they occur, helping to ensure reliable market participation and regulatory compliance, while maintaining the safe and stable operation of one of Queensland’s largest battery energy storage systems.

The electrification of many industries and the rise of new power-intensive sectors are accelerating the need to expand and modernize the power grid. In most countries, the grid infrastructure has already exceeded its expected lifetime and was not designed to meet today’s demands. Increasing the availability and extending the lifetime of existing assets has never been more critical, making partnerships more important than ever.

HMAX Energy is Hitachi's AI-powered suite of services and solutions – designed to safeguard critical energy infrastructure while enabling operational efficiency. Delivered through trusted customer partnerships, HMAX Energy optimizes planning, prediction, and prevention – strengthening energy security and resilience. At its core, HMAX Energy enables asset intelligence - laying the foundation for a Physical AI future.