Queensland Goes With Tesla Megapack Batteries for 100MW BESS Project

The state government of Queensland has announced that the state owned power company CS Energy will build a 100MW battery energy storage system (BESS) by using Tesla Inc’s Megapacks batteries to support renewable power. The move comes despite the well publicised accident involving the megapacks in Australia’s  Victoria Big Battery project earlier in July last year.

Each Tesla Megapack can store upto 3 MW hours of energy, providing a large-scale rechargeable lithium-ion battery stationary energy storage option for large battery stations.

The state government said that CS Energy is developing a grid scale project near Chinchilla in Downs Region of Queensland. The BESS will be constructed at a cost of A$ 150 million and create 80 jobs in the construction phase and 10 jobs in the operational segment post commissioning of the BESS.

The construction of the BESS project will begin later in 2022. Cameron Dick, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, Queensland, adds, “These Tesla Megapacks are expected to be in place and operating by the end of next year.”

He said, “Queensland has the natural resources of wind, sun and water to be a renewable energy superpower. As we work towards our target of 50% renewable energy by 2030, we can also support more jobs in new industries right across regional Queensland.”

CS Energy is developing a large energy hub at Kogan Creek Power Station site which is a coal based facility. The upcoming BESS will be a part of the same energy hub. The company will connect the BESS with the Western Downs 275kV substation owned and operated by Powerlink.

CS Energy says that along with the BESS, the energy hub will also host a green hydrogen demonstration plant. The Hydrogen plant will draw electricity from a 2MW solar power plant that will be created for it. The solar plant will have its own 2MW/4MWh battery system meant to serve the 700kW hydrogen electrolyser and fuel cell. CS Energy says that hydrogen produced in the facility will be exported to Palau.

This is not the only coal based power station in Australia that will be transformed into a renewable energy facility. Origin Energy will convert the Eraring Coal Power Plant in New South Wales to a 700MW BESS. Energy Australia has also planned to retire its Yallourn plant in Victoria to build a 350 MW BESS.