Works begin on giant Queensland Tesla battery at site of former coal plant

Construction has started on the 250MW/500MWh Swanbank Battery south of Brisbane, setting in progress one of Queensland’s biggest battery energy storage systems, and the first to be built by the state’s publicly owned utility CleanCo.

The $330 million big battery is being developed by CleanCo in partnership with Tesla and Yurika at the site of the former Swanbank B coal-fired power plant outside Ipswich, as part of the Swanbank Clean Energy Hub.

The state Labor government says the big battery will have the capacity to store enough energy – largely from solar generated across local rooftops – to power more than two-thirds of Ipswich for two hours each night when demand rises as the sun sets.

The goal is to have the site energised by mid-2025, as part of the Queensland Labor government’s plan to shift the state to 70 per cent renewables by 2032, and to the newly legislated target of 75 per cent renewables by 2035.

“It’s because of new technologies like this that we will reach the ambitious energy targets put before parliament,” said Queensland premier Steven Miles on Monday.

“Renewables are driving down the spot wholesale price of power below zero, which is why we will continue to invest in them.”

CleanCo CEO Tom Metcalfe says the BESS marks the beginning of the Swanbank Power Station’s “transformative journey” away from fossil fuels and towards renewables.

Once part of a precinct of coal-fired power stations – Swanbank A, B, C and D – the gas-fired Swanbank E remains the only operating power station on the site.

“This is the beginning of a new era for Swanbank and CleanCo is proud to be the custodian of a site which has evolved and adapted with Queensland’s energy landscape from coal to gas and now new battery technologies,” Metcalfe said on Monday.

“The Swanbank Battery will add significant capacity for CleanCo to supply our customers with competitively priced, reliable clean energy around the clock,” he said.

State energy minister Mick de Brenni says the conversion of the Swanbank site to a Clean Energy Hub will also help to provide job security for the local workforce.

The battery project, alone, backed by $330 million in funding from the Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund, is expected to create around 60 jobs during construction and up to 10 full-time jobs in operation.