Spain-based renewables company X-Elio has received federal approval to develop a 350-MW solar park integrated with a battery energy storage system (BESS) in Queensland, Australia.
The Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) issued the permit for the Sixteen Mile Solar Farm on Friday.
The project, located approximately 22 km south of Chinchilla, will feature a 120 MW/240 MWh battery storage facility and will be constructed primarily on land previously cleared for agricultural use, including cattle grazing and cropping.
The solar farm will connect to the grid via a new 7.4-km power line leading to the existing Western Downs substation. Once operational, the facility will utilize 579,660 photovoltaic (PV) panels to generate enough electricity to power around 160,000 homes annually and is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 650,000 tonnes.
The commissioning of the Sixteen Mile Solar Farm is scheduled for the final quarter of 2026, and the construction phase is anticipated to create up to 300 jobs.
In addition to this project, X-Elio already has three active solar and energy storage initiatives either in development or under construction in Australia.
