Australian energy giant Origin Energy has unveiled plans to build the largest battery energy storage system (BESS) in the state of Queensland as it continues to expand its renewable energy generation and storage portfolio.
Origin Energy has submitted an environmental report to the Australian Federal Government for the construction of a new 500 MW/2,000 MWh BESS near Kogan, approximately 40 km west of Dalby, Queensland.
The BESS will be installed on land adjacent to Origin Energy’s existing 630MW Darling Downs power station, Australia’s largest gas-fired combined cycle power station. Origin Energy said it has already received approval from Western Downs Regional Council to enable the development and installation of a battery at the site.
A 275 kV transmission line will connect the system to the electricity grid via the nearby Braemar substation. Origin Energy said the battery will use lithium-ion technology and have a storage capacity of up to four hours that can be dispatched over variable durations.
The company said it plans to “build and operate the BESS, to increase Queensland-based system strength and storage resources, providing security to Queensland’s energy supply… The battery at Darling Downs will be charged via the existing grid connection during the day when renewable energy is plentiful and dispatched at times of peak demand.”
Construction is expected to start in mid-2025, with construction expected to last 24 months. Pending approvals, Origin Energy said it will initiate a tender process to find a suitably qualified contractor to supply and install the battery.
If built, the battery will be the largest in Queensland, surpassing the 300MW/1,200MWh to be built by the state energy company Stanwell next to the Tarong coal-fired power station, approximately 100 km north-east of Dalby.
It would also be larger than the state’s two operational batteries: Singapore-based developer Vena Energy’s 100 MW/150 MWh Wandoan South project on the Western Downs and Sydney-based Genex’s 50 MW/100 MWh Bouldercombe battery near Rockhampton, central Queensland.
The Darling Downs battery expands Origin Energy’s battery energy storage portfolio as it aims to expand its renewable energy and storage portfolio to 4GW by 2030.
The utility is also working on plans to build a 700 MW/2,800 MWh battery at the site of its coal-fired power plant. Eraring power station in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales. It has also started construction of a 300 MW/650 MWh project next to the gas-fired power plant in MortmeerVictoria.
This content is copyrighted and may not be reused. If you would like to collaborate with us and reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
