German renewables company BayWa r.e. AG has applied for an environmental permit for a significant battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Queensland, Australia, documents reveal under the Australian government's EPBC Act.
The proposed Hughes Road BESS, boasting a capacity of 200 MW and 800 MWh, will be situated within the Central Queensland Renewable Energy Zone, spanning 28.8 hectares (71.2 acres). Located 12 km south of Gladstone in central Queensland, the battery will link to the National Electricity Market via a nearby Powerlink-owned substation.
Designed to provide essential firming services to the grid, the BESS is slated for construction over approximately 12 months, although commissioning details have not been finalized.
Earlier in May, BayWa r.e. submitted an application for a 312 MW wind farm near Jung, Victoria, alongside a 100 MW/400 MWh battery. The Wimmera Plains Energy Facility is set to commence construction in the third quarter of 2025, aiming for operational readiness by late 2027.
In Australia, BayWa r.e. has already commissioned over 270 MW of solar and wind projects, including the Karadoc and Yatpool photovoltaic farms in Victoria with capacities of 90 MW and 106 MW, respectively.
