Huge 1.6 gigawatt-hour battery gets federal green light for Queensland hub, state planning hurdles remain

A “strategically vital” and very large battery proposed for construction in Queensland’s Gladstone region has been waved through the federal environmental approvals process, just over two months after being referred there for assessment.

The Rutherglen Battery is a joint development of Gryphon Energy, Red Hill Renewable Energy and Ampyr Energy Australia that proposes to build a 750 MW, 1600 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) on cattle grazing land 6km east of Bororen and 10km north of Miriam Vale.

A decision published on the EPBC website on Thursday said the proposed project was “not a controlled action” and had the green light to go ahead, as far as the federal environment minister is concerned.

At the local and state government level, a decision on the project is still pending, with the project developers noting last year that it would be resubmitting a new development application in line with the new planning requirements for BESS projects in the state.

“The development application previously lodged with Gladstone Regional Council is now considered improperly made and will be resubmitted through the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) under the new framework,” a December news update said.

“We welcome these reforms, which establish clearer and more consistent standards for BESS developments and support responsible, transparent delivery with lasting community benefits,” the update says.

“Our team is reviewing the Rutherglen Battery against State Code 27 and is confident the existing reports and plans will meet the updated criteria with some minor amendments and additions.

“We remain committed to progressing the project through the appropriate approvals process and will continue to keep the community informed.”

The Rutherglen Battery website describes the project as a “critical piece of energy infrastructure,” that will deliver grid-firming capacity to the Gladstone Region – an industrial centre that hosts the Boyne Island aluminium smelter that is switching from coal power to become among the first in the world to be powered by firmed wind and solar.

The EPBC referral says the battery is proposed for land that has already been cleared for cattle grazing, and with no threatened flora species within the project site.

A total of 66 fauna species were recorded during a field survey, with two threatened species, the southern squatter pigeon and white-throated needletail, recorded adjacent to the project site.

The proposed battery is part of a battery boom currently underway in the Sunshine State, that extends from the planning pipeline through to construction, early commissioning and newly powered up – with 1,410 MW of new BESS capacity recently joining the state’s grid. 

This includes the powering up last month of Quinbrook’s 260 MW, 619 MWh stage one Supernode BESS, CleanCo’s 250 MW 500 MWh Swanbank BESS south of Brisbane, and Stanwell’s 300 MW, two-hour Tarong Battery in the state’s South Burnett region.

If you wish to support independent media, and accurate information, please consider making a one off donation or becoming a regular supporter of Renew Economy. Please click here. Your support is invaluable.