Mackay to get mega lithium battery following Tesla battery fire

Treasurer Cameron Dick announced Queensland would be getting 12 new batteries to connect to the supergrid just hours before a $60 million lithium battery caught alight near Rockhampton.

Mackay learned it would be getting a new battery to connect to the supergrid just hours before a $60 million battery caught alight near Rockhampton.

Treasurer Cameron Dick visited Mackay to announce there would be a 4MW battery installed next to an Ergon substation on Peachs Rd in Marian, west of Mackay, capable of discharging up to 8MW per hour.

Mr Dick said the Marian battery would capture solar generated from rooftops and return it to the grid at night to put “downwards pressure” on electricity costs.

But there are concerns over whether the battery would be safe after a $60 million Tesla lithium battery caught on fire at the Bouldercombe Battery Project on Wednesday morning.

A fire rages in a battery storage bank at a power sub-station at Bouldercombe near Rockhampton.

It was supposed to come online in October and power 4000 homes.

Firefighters were advised to not extinguish the flames, prompting fierce comments on social media including from Senator Matt Canavan who said the “new energy grid is worse than our old energy grid”.

But Mr Dick said the new Marian battery was vital to connect the Mackay region to the supergrid and create a “reliable” grid supply to handle more renewable electricity generation.

An Ergon Energy spokeswoman said it worked closely with product manufacturers to ensure products met the highest safety standards.

“The community can rest assured safety is always our top priority, from procurement and design to construction, installation and operation, including the 24/7 monitoring of our network assets in the distribution networks of Ergon Energy Network and Energex,” the spokeswoman said.

“We work closely with emergency services when they are working near any electrical assets, whether it is a substation, overhead powerlines or a battery.”

Treasurer Cameron Dick with Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, to announce a new battery at Marian which will connect to Queensland's supergrid. Picture: Zoe Devenport

The Marian battery is just one of 12 to be rolled out across Queensland as part of a Stage 2 battery project.

Other locations include Gordonvale and Kewarra in Cairns, Emerald, Mundubbera, Gladstone, Howard, Toowoomba, Raby Bay, Bribie Island, and Morayfield.

They follow batteries being installed at Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Toowoomba, Townsville, and Yeppoon in Stage 1.

Mackay’s power capabilities are further bolstered by Ergon’s recently completed $28 million Mackay City Substation at Tennyson St.

Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert said the “complex project” was designed to withstand a one in 200-year flood event.

“The community will reap the benefits of the new substation for many years to come,” Mrs Gilbert said.

Ergon was now demolishing the old substation, and recovering old underground cables and conduit.

This publication contacted Energy Minister Mick de Brenni for comment on how he would ensure the Mackay battery did not catch on fire but a response was not received by deadline.