Power up: Application for battery storage facility lodged to support uptake of renewables

It was announced in March that Bargara had been selected as one of five locations around the state to participate in the trial and now a development application has been lodged with council: See the images of what the facility would look like if approved.

Bargara will be one of five locations across the state to play host to a large-scale network-connected battery trial if a development application is approved by council.

Bargara will be one of five locations across the state to play host to a large-scale network-connected battery trial if a development application is approved by council.

A combined material change of use and reconfiguring of lot application was recently lodged with Bundaberg Regional Council for a 40MW battery storage facility to be built at School Lane.

The application was lodged by Energy Queensland, with the land for the proposed development owned by Ergon Energy.

The storage facility would be built and connected to the substation at Bargara.

The battery storage facility will be built at the Bargara substation on School Lane.

The trial was announced in March with storage facilities also expected to be installed at Hervey Bay, Townsville, Yeppoon and Toowoomba.

“Energy Queensland has identified that the Bargara substation site is suitable for the rollout of the battery project initiative,” the application states.

“This project is for the development of a new Energy Queensland Battery Storage Facility at the existing Ergon Bargara 66/11kV Substation.

“The state government announced that Energy Queensland will lead a new network connected battery storage trial in Queensland, as an innovative effort to address minimum demand challenge and support the goal of 50 per cent of consumed power in Queensland to be generated from renewables by 2030.”

The application states the batteries will store excess electricity generated from renewable sources during daylight hours before distributing it back into the network during evening peak demand.

“These batteries will provide economic benefits right across Queensland and contribute towards economic recovery,” the application says.

“Installing batteries at the distribution level will reduce reverse power flow, unload transformers and allow cheaper wholesale power during the day to be supplied to customers during the evening.

“The closer batteries are to rooftop solar is connected, the greater the benefit.

“Distributed battery storage would see batteries connected to many parts of the network around the state.”

The batteries will store excess electricity generated from renewable sources during daylight hours before distributing it back into the network during evening peak demand.

In March, Bundaberg MP Tom Smith said the trial would explore how network-connected battery projects could provide economic benefits in communities across Queensland.

“Queensland has one of the highest levels of solar system penetration in the world, and this is one area where we can start using this huge source of renewable energy in a smarter way,” he said.

“This trial will investigate benefits across both the electricity transmission and distribution networks, plus it will also offer increased opportunities for local Queensland businesses.”