Chinchilla big battery takes shape next to country’s biggest coal unit

Construction is well underway on a big battery energy storage system being built by CS Energy in Queensland’s Darling Downs region, with all of the project’s Tesla Megapacks now lifted into place.

A timelapse video posted by CS Energy this week shows the 100MW/200MWh Chinchilla battery taking shape in Kogan Creek, next to the coal generator of the same name.

State-owned CS Energy says the $150 million project’s 80 Tesla Megapack units are on their foundations at the site of the Kogan Creek Clean Energy Hub, which also proposes to produce green hydrogen.

“We’re working with Tesla and Downer to deliver the battery, with testing and commissioning to be carried out later this year,” CS Energy says on LinkedIn.

“When operational, the Chinchilla Battery will charge during the day when there is often a surplus of solar energy and then release it back into the grid during peak demand periods.”

Queensland’s government promised a major roll out of big batteries following the spectacular explosion at the Callide C coal plant in 2021, when it realised that battery storage could have played a key role in maintaining grid security, and lower prices, in the chaos that followed.

The state’s first big battery – the 100MW/150MWh Wandoan South installation – came online last year and Genex is in the process of building the Bouldercombe big battery, along with its Kidston pumped hydro installation in the north of the state.

Another state owned energy company Stanwell has announced plans to build a 150MW, two hour battery at the Tarong coal fired generator, which could be expanded down the track.

In the state’s north, Ace Power has gained approval to develop the 200MW/400MWh Yabulu battery energy storage system on land in Black River near the town of Yabulu, roughly 25km north-west of Townsville.

And TagEnergy will build a 300MW/600MWh battery at Mount Fox near Townsville after being one of the eight big batteries chosen in the new funding round that is focused on advanced grid forming inverters that can mimic the grid services normally provided by coal, gas and hydro power stations.

TagEnergy’s Mount Fox renewable energy hub will also include a wind farm, including up to 57 turbines and likely to have a rated capacity of more than 400MW.