Octopus to add huge solar and battery storage project to Queensland wind farm

Energy investor Octopus Australia says it has bought a large solar and battery storage project to add to the newly completed Dulacca wind farm in its Western Downs Energy Park in Queensland.

Octopus commissioned the 180MW Dulacca wind farm in the southwest of Queensland, about 370kms from Brisbane, in April this year, and on Monday said it has bought the neighbouring Ardandra storage and solar project which would connect into the same line.

The 175MW solar project, with an anticipated 400MWh of battery storage, is expected to be constructed by 2025 and, together with the Dulacca wind farm, will form the biggest integrated multi-technology renewable energy parks in Queensland, overtaking the existing but much smaller Kennedy energy park.

“The development of the Octopus Western Downs Energy Park sets an example of how renewable energy will support the needs of Queensland’s energy transition,” said Darren Brown, co-head of investment and development at Octopus Australia.

“Integrated renewable and storage technologies allow clean energy to provide ‘firmed’ energy offerings, providing energy when customers need it most.”

It is the second purchase of a renewable project from Juwi Australia in the last couple of weeks. In late May, Octopus said it had bought the 400MW Hay Plains wind project in south-west NSW.

Octopus also owns the 330MW (dc) Darlington Point solar farm, and the Fulham storage and solar project in Victoria, which will combine 80MW of solar and up to 120MWh of battery storage.