Queensland's publicly owned energy company, CleanCo, has announced the commencement of construction on a significant battery energy storage system (BESS) in the Australian state. With a capacity of 250 megawatts (MW) and 500 megawatt-hours (MWh), this project marks one of the largest battery installations in Queensland.
The facility, slated to be erected at CleanCo's Swanbank site, comes with a price tag of AUD 330 million (USD 216m/EUR 200.2m), according to CleanCo's statement on Monday. The endeavor will be a collaboration between CleanCo, Tesla, and Yurika, a subsidiary of the state government-owned electricity company, Energy Queensland.
Scheduled for completion later this year, the Swanbank facility will serve as CleanCo's inaugural battery, boasting a storage capacity equivalent to two hours of operation. It is expected to be fully operational by mid-2025.
Funding for the project stems from the Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund, reflecting the state's commitment to bolstering clean energy infrastructure.
Situated at a site that formerly housed two coal-fired power stations, the BESS will be part of a broader clean energy hub, coexisting with the Swanbank E combined-cycle gas-fired power station. Notably, the battery will repurpose the location of the Swanbank B coal-fired plant, symbolizing a transition towards sustainable energy practices.
