Gigawatt-scale solar and battery project near Queensland coal plant wins federal green tick

A gigawatt-scale project combining a massive solar farm and a big battery – located not far from a major coal fired generator – has been waved through by federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek.

The 800 MW Punchs Creek solar project, along with a 250 MW battery energy storage system, is being developed by Brisbane-based Skylab Group, and is located around 64kms south-west of Toowoomba in Queensland, and close to the 825 MW Milmerran coal fired generator and mine.

The solar and battery project will be built across eight freehold land parcels on previously cleared agricultural land, and will be built alongside a major 330kV transmission line that already carries power from the coal generator.​

Skylab has suggested the first stage of the project will involve a 400 MW solar facility, and cited the proximity of the coal fired generator made it an ideal location.

“With recent decisions to phase out coal generation plants, this project is in the optimum location to replace ~900MW of adjacent generation,” the company said on its website last year.

Many big battery projects are being built next to existing or shuttered coal fired power stations in Queensland – and around Australia – with batteries to be sited at Stanwell, Tarong, Gladstone, Swanbank and Kogan Creek.

The approval from Plibersek continues a flurry of activity which includes the approval of the 400 MW Mount Hopeful wind farm in central Queensland, the rejection of the 296 MW Wooroora wind project in the north of state, and approval of the biggest solar and battery project in NSW at Sandy Creek in New England.

“We want to unlock Australia’s potential to be a world leader in renewable energy. I’ve now ticked off 47 renewable energy projects which will power over 3 million homes,” Plibersek said in a statement.

​“And we have a record 134 renewables projects in the approval pipeline. This is an exciting time. As well as lower emissions, it means cheaper, cleaner power for all Australians.”

Skylab also developed the 100 MW Gunsynd Solar Farm near Goondiwindi in south-west Queensland, which is now owned by Singapore-based Metis Energy, and owns the proposed Springvale Renewable Project, a 400 MW / 480 MW solar farm with 100 MWh battery storage and hydrogen production capacity near Townsville in the state’s north.

See also Renew Economy’s Big Battery Storage Map of Australia.