Another two big batteries compete for grid access at new energy hub located next to shuttered coal generators

Another major battery storage project has lined up for approvals at the emerging Swanbank energy hub in Queensland, the site of a former coal fired power station that now features a gas generator and plans to add storage and other industrial activities.

Last week, the 180-megawatt (MW) two-hour (360 MWh) Noblevale battery project, being developer by Melbourne-based developer Zebre, was waved through the federal government’s environmental assessment queue.

Zebre says that the project “will play an important role in replacing ageing existing energy infrastructure and providing essential storage capacity for Ipswich and south-east Queensland.”

It was waved through as not a “controlled action”, due in large part to its planned development on the site of the old Swanbank coal mine. In its referral to the EPBC queue, Zebre explained that the location had been selected “to avoid environmental values including the Koala Habitat Area”.

The Swanbank Industrial Area is already home to at least one big battery, the 250 MW/500 MWh Swanbank BESS which was commissioned earlier this year, but another even bigger battery, a 500 MW, 2000 MWh proposal, has also joined the EPBC queue.

Octopus Investments hope to start building the Blackstone battery later this year, and have it fully commissioned in 2029. They say they already have local and state approvals.

The facility is sited mostly on land impacted by open cut and underground coal mining operations, and is located next to the existing sub-station, and beneath transmission lines. But it does include 3 hectares of koala habitat, but it says this is already largely degraded by the mining activities.

“Ecological assessments identified approximately 3.26 ha of remnant vegetation within the project area, comprising remnant eucalypt woodland in moderate to degraded condition,” the application says.

“While mature canopy trees are present, the understorey is generally sparse and the ground layer is dominated by introduced and disturbance-associated species.

“The site has been subject to vegetation clearing, historical mining activities and ongoing industrial disturbance, resulting in a fragmented landscape with reduced ecological integrity compared to the surrounding bioregional benchmark condition.”

Octopus says the Project will support the National Electricity Market, improve grid reliability and facilitate the integration of renewable energy generation.

“The development forms part of the ongoing transition of the Swanbank area from historical mining uses to industrial, energy generation, energy storage and utility-related land uses,” it says.

“Associated construction activities include remediation of historical underground mining tunnels and supporting infrastructure works required to facilitate the safe construction and operation of the BESS.”

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