A Tesla Megapack-powered project being developed by Neoen at the Queensland Green Power Hub has been given the go-ahead for construction. This is Neoen’s fourth major battery system in Australia and will bring Neoen’s total battery capacity in operation or under construction worldwide to over 6GW. Neoen plans to reach 10 GW by 2025.
The France-based renewable energy project developer announced in late December that Tesla and UGL have received communications to proceed with construction of its 200 megawatt/400 MWh Western Downs Battery, which will use Tesla Megapack battery systems.
The battery is comprised of Tesla Megapack systems and will utilize the company’s existing Western Downs Green Power Hub infrastructure. Part of the infrastructure is an almost completed solar park with 460 MWp.
The battery system will be located adjacent to the Western Downs substation, with Powerlink providing the connection work. Neoen said the battery would help stabilize and modernize Queensland’s electricity grid and perform a number of important roles, including boosting renewable energy, providing spectrum services and supporting the transmission grid.
Support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Large Scale Battery Storage Funding Round will equip the battery with grid-forming inverter technology, enabling it to provide the required system stability services normally provided by synchronous power generation such as coal and gas.
Darren Miller, CEO of ARENA, emphasized the importance of the role of battery storage in the transition to renewable energy. Neoen CEO Xavier Barbaro added that the company is proud of the new storage, noting that it will be the most powerful battery in Queensland.
“Neoen now has a global storage portfolio of 842 MW / 1341 MWh. It also increases our total capacity of over 6GW in operation or under construction around the world – giving us confidence that we can reach 10GW by 2025.”
He added that the Western Downs Green Power Hub would be the largest operating solar park in Australia. The battery will bring Neoen’s Australian battery storage portfolio to 776MW/1279MWh in operation or under construction.
Neoen has three other major batteries in Australia and they are:
- 300MW / 450MWh Victorian Big Battery (Geelong)
- 150 MW / 193.5 MWh Hornsdale Power Reserve (Tesla Big Battery, South Australia)
- 100 MW / 200 MWh Capital Battery (Australian Capital Territory – under construction)
In December, Tesla confirmed that its Megapack factory in Lathrop, California, is capable of producing 10,000 Megapack units per year. Elon Musk has pointed out multiple times that Tesla Energy has the potential to grow larger than its EV business. The Tesla Megapack, which is sold out until Q3 2024, seems to be consistent with its earlier statements.
Disclosure: Johnna is a $TSLA shareholder and believes in Tesla’s mission.
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Tesla Megapack-powered project at Queensland Green Power Hub gets green light for construction
