Neoen has announced plans to expand its Western Downs Battery, which will have a total installed capacity of 270 MW/540 MWh.
Tesla and CIMIC Group’s UGL will deliver the expansion, which began building on the project’s first stage in January 2023. With its increased capacity, the battery aims to play an even more vital role in Queensland’s rapidly accelerating energy transition, driving up demand for storage and related network services.
Western Downs Battery, comprised of Tesla Megapack 2XL units, leverages Neoen’s existing Western Downs Green Power Hub infrastructure. The Hub comprises Australia’s largest solar farm, with a capacity of 460 MWp, which has recently been commissioned. Powerlink will provide the project’s connection works and a dedicated high-voltage line into the Western Downs substation. The battery is anticipated to begin operation in the summer of 2024/25 in Australia.
“Batteries will continue to play a critical role in the changing generation mix as we work towards a low emissions future. Increasing the capacity of Neoen’s Western Downs Battery to store Queensland’s valuable wind and solar resources will help keep the grid in a secure operating state and offer greater stability to Queenslanders,” Powerlink Queensland CEO Paul Simshauser commented.
According to Neoen, the Western Downs Battery will be able to provide various network services to the Queensland grid, including firming renewables, frequency services, and transmission network assistance. The battery will eventually be equipped with grid-forming inverter technology, enabling it to offer crucial system stability services, with assistance from ARENA‘s Large Scale Battery Storage Funding Round.
“We are delighted to be expanding the Western Downs Battery, demonstrating our willingness to play an increasingly central role in Queensland’s rapid decarbonisation. We would like to thank Tesla, UGL and Powerlink for their hard work and ongoing commitment to delivering this project. We are thrilled to have big batteries operating or under construction in 5 Australian states and territories,” Neoen Australia CEO Louis de Sambucy said.
Neoen said the Western Downs Battery’s expansion, initially designed for 200 MW / 400 MWh, solidifies its position as Australia’s top owner and operator of big batteries. The company already owns and runs the 300 MW / 450 MWh Victorian Big Battery in Geelong and the Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia, which is 150 MW / 193.5 MWh. Three more batteries, including the 4-hour duration 219 MW / 877 MWh Collie Battery in Western Australia, are currently under construction.
“I would like to thank the Neoen Australia team for building Queensland’s most powerful battery. It illustrates once more our commitment to accelerating investment in battery storage, with durations that are capable of delivering a wider range of services and solutions. A leading player in storage, with deep expertise built across many years, Neoen is unlocking the full potential of renewables. We are proud to be making an increasingly valuable contribution to a clean energy future for Australia and the rest of the world,” Neoen Chairman and CEO Xavier Barbaro said.
