New battery energy storage system planned for Wurdong Heights
A major new battery storage facility similar to the one which caught fire near Rockhampton last year is planned for Gladstone but the company behind the development insists “well thought out” safety checks are in place.
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The Gladstone region could soon be home to a new battery energy storage system (BESS) with plans for the controversial project recently lodged with council.
Akaysha Energy, an Australian started BESS and renewable projects developer, has submitted a bid to build a “large-scale” facility on Hughes Rd at Wurdong Heights.
According to the planning report, the project would also include a 275 kV HV substation and a transmission line into the existing substation.
The battery storage units would have a maximum capacity of up to 400MW/1600MWh.
During the construction of the proposed facility, located on five hecatres, a workforce of about 150 people is expected to be on site.
Akaysha Energy Managing Director for Development Tony Fullelove said the Gladstone region was the “perfect location” for the proposed project.
“It’s a great site it’s on the 275 kV, so the extra high voltage backbone that runs up through Central Queensland, making it the perfect location for a battery to support, not only, the energy transition in the area but also local industry around Gladstone in particular,” he said.
“It’s the best spot from an electrical connection point of view to the Central Queensland grid.
“We aim to minimise impact as much as possible and it’s a relatively low impact site in terms of proximity to neighbours, to screening … that’s something we consider quite carefully when selecting sites.
“Being adjacent to the existing substation that also helps lower impact of additional transmission lines.”
Mr Fullelove accepted some members of the community might be concerned about how safe the batteries were after seeing the disaster involving two megapacks at the Bouldercombe BESS catch fire last year.
He said the company hadn’t yet settled on what battery packs would be used to construct the project.
However, he insisted the batteries were safe and the company had sure measures were in place to minimise any risk.
“Batteries are safe, there’s always risk, it is an electrical device, like any industrial piece of equipment there are some risks, but they’re minimised as much as possible through design, by locating them in the right locations and by having really, really well thought out fire safety plans,” he said.
“We work really closely with the local fire brigades, as did the incident in Bouldercombe.
“They’re always terrible incidents when they happen, but it was controlled really well by the local fire brigade, they knew what to do and it was over very quickly and that minimises risk.”
Mr Fullelove said it was “excellent” to be able to be part of the Central Queensland renewables movement, with the region proving to be quite the powerhouse for renewable projects.
“It means we can tap into local labour markets and local jobs,” he said.
“Gladstone has a long history of being an industrial centre for Queensland and it’s a really good opportunity to leverage that.
“Batteries being close to not only other generations, but major loads like the Boyne smelter and other major industry players in the Gladstone area, that’s really important to us as well.”
Mr Fullelove said Akaysha Energy would conduct another community consultation event in early March and welcomed anyone with questions to attend.
He said while the project was still in the planning stages, the company was hopeful for a decision on the proposed project in the first half of this year and were looking to start construction in 2025.
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