Dr Anthony Lynham
Queensland’s biggest battery will mark the first stage of a major renewable project that could supply up to 400,000 homes with solar energy, helping power EVs.
A deal to build the massive 100MW battery near Wandoan on the Western Downs has been announced by AGL Energy, Vena Energy Australia and energy minister Dr Anthony Lynham.
“Queensland’s renewable energy revolution is steaming ahead and the next wave is battery storage,” he says.
“The climate-change deniers criticise renewable energy for not being available when the sun doesn’t shine and wind doesn’t blow – batteries are a game-changer.
“This battery is the first step in Vena Energy’s bigger plans to deliver up to 1000MW of solar energy in Queensland.”
The battery build starts in July and will take about a year to complete, Vena Energy chief executive Nitin Apte says.
“The battery energy storage system is the first major milestone in our $650 million Wandoan South Project, which has the potential to supply up to 400,000 Queensland households with solar energy,” he says.
Once the battery is built, Vena Energy Australia aims to begin work on a solar farm at the same site in 2021.
The lithium ion battery will be one of the biggest in Australia and will be able to take and deliver 100MW of energy into and out of the National Energy Market, and store up to 150MW hours of energy.
AGL chief executive Brett Redman says the battery – capable of supplying up to 57,000 homes with energy – would complement the company’s renewable projects.
“This battery will support our massive Coopers Gap Wind Farm, which will be producing up to 453MW of energy when all 123 wind turbines are up and running,” he says.
“AGL will also be able to leverage excess solar generation in Queensland and provide capacity when the Coopers Gap Wind Farm and other renewable power sources are not generating.”
Lynham says Queensland already has three large-scale batteries operating – at Lakeland Solar Farm in Far North Queensland, at Kennedy Energy Park near Hughenden, and one at the University of Queensland in Brisbane. Another in Townsville is expected to be operating next month.
Queensland now has almost 5500MW of renewable generation capacity from $4.7 billion worth of investment since December 2016, he says.
AGL and Vena Energy Australia have signed a 15-year agreement to deliver and operate the battery. As the user of the battery, AGL will have full operational dispatch rights, and as the owner of the battery, Vena Energy Australia will build and maintain the asset.
