State government-owned energy company Stanwell is progressing plans to develop a large-scale standalone battery with a combined 1.45 GW/2.9 GWh of energy storage adjacent to its coal-fired Stanwell Power Station near Rockhampton in central Queensland. Stanwell said the battery would support ongoing investment in renewables and help maintain system security and reliability.
A material change of use application has been lodged with Rockhampton Regional Council on behalf of Stanwell, which owns and operates the Stanwell and Tarong coal-fired power stations, for a new utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS).
According to the planning report, the BESS would be installed on a 12-hectare site near the Stanwell Power Station and would be built in two stages. Stage one would involve the installation of lithium-ion batteries with an output of 150 MW/300 MWh while stage two may use lithium-ion or flow battery technology with an output of up to 1,300 MW/2,600 MWh.
Stanwell, which is also progressing plans to develop a 150 MW/300 MWh battery adjacent to the Tarong Power Station site near Nanango in the South Burnett, said it is seeking to develop a high-quality, cost-effective portfolio of renewable energy and energy storage assets to support its long-term strategy of providing low-emissions solutions to commercial and industrial retail customers.
“As a business, we are investigating a range of future energy solutions to ensure we are in the best position possible to respond to the changing market,” the company said. “We are investigating a range of opportunities to incorporate technologies into our asset portfolio, including hydrogen, energy storage, wind, solar and bioenergy.”
The government-owned generator said large-scale BESS will play an increasingly important role in the National Electricity Market (NEM) as it moves to a predominantly renewable-based energy system. “Energy storage will be critical as it helps facilitate the integration of renewable energy into the energy system by storing electricity generated by wind and solar and supplying it to the market when required,” it said.
The first stage of the Stanwell battery would incorporate lithium-ion technology.The report, lodged by Brisbane-based design and engineering company Aurecon, indicates the Stanwell battery will be capable of storing electrical energy from, and exporting to, the NEM. “The project will store electricity during periods of high supply and or low usage and provide electricity during critical peak times allowing for reliable and affordable energy supply during these periods,” the report says.
The BESS will also provide Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) services to the NEM, helping ensure energy supply and demand are matched at all times. “By acting as a load during the peak solar generation periods and providing energy services that support system stability, the BESS will support the deployment of renewable energy power generation in the NEM,” the report says.
The Stanwell battery is to be built on a site adjacent to the Stanwell power plant, about 28 kilometers southwest of Rockhampton. Stanwell said locating battery storage at the site would allow it to capitalize on existing land and connection infrastructure with the proposed BESS to connect to Queensland network operator Powerlink’s adjoining switchyard via a 275 kV transmission line.
While no timeline for the project was detailed in the planning report, Stanwell has previously indicated to would likely be brought online in 2024, although the report acknowledges the project remains subject to approvals.
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