CSG company proposes small solar farm and battery to “cut emissions” at expanded gas project

Arrow Energy is seeking federal government approval for a small solar farm and battery storage facility that it says will “cut emissions” for the planned expansion to its massive coal seam gas project in the Surat Basin in Queensland.

The proposal from Arrow is for an off-grid 17 MW solar farm, accompanied by an 8 MW, 8 MWh battery storage facility, that will help power a gas compressor at the North Surat gas field. Most of the power will come from a 24.5 MW gas generator.

The solar farm and battery will provide around 20 per cent of the total electricity needs, considerably less than some of the other off-grid renewable installations that are often providing more than half (such as the Agnew facility pictured above) and up to 80 per cent of a mining facilities electricity needs.

“The implementation and operation of the Project will enable the reduction of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by providing a renewable energy source for SGP North and is a key initiative to support the Arrow CSG’s net zero targets,” the company says.

Surat North is part of the Surat gas project that Arrow says will include to 2,500 gas wells in an area. Arrow is jointly owned by global oil giant Shell and PetroChina, and the gas is destined for both domestic and export customers through the Queensland Curtis LNG plant near Gladstone, according to the AFR.

The gas project has been opposed by farming families and landholders in the Darling Downs, who say they are worried about the risk of damage to water and land. The project is also opposed by environmental groups, concerned about increased emissions from fossil fuel production, the AFR says.

Arrow says the solar and battery project site is currently grazed by cattle, but much of the area was significantly impacted by bushfires in 2022, with reduced vegetation quality compared to large tracts of remnant vegetation outside the Project footprint.

The location is also separated from adjoining remnant vegetation areas by an approximately 100m wide gas pipeline easement to the east. The company is seeking an independent contractor to build and own the renewable and storage assets.