Toowoomba region’s Bulli Creek solar farm developer plans changes to battery layout in project

One of the Darling Downs’ biggest solar projects hasn’t taken off yet, with its developer seeking to make changes to make it more commercially viable — here's the reason.

3D rendering of proposed Bulli Creek Solar Farm near Millmerran by company Solar Choice. Photo Contributed

The developer behind one of the biggest solar projects on the Darling Downs has proposed changes to the project around its initial battery storage, in response to strong use of rooftop solar in Queensland.

Australian company Solar Choice has lodged plans with the Toowoomba Regional Council to change the staging of its Bulli Creek solar farm outside Millmerran.

According to a letter sent by Solar Choice’s Angus Gemmell on June 21, the change to the original 2015 approval related to how quickly battery storage can be built to connect with the nearby Powerlink grid.

“The battery energy storage system (BESS) units were approved by council to be located at eight indicative locations throughout all lots,” the letter said.

“It is now proposed to consolidate a first sub-stage stand-alone BESS closest to the connection

point with Powerlink’s Bulli Creek substation being the northern corner of the project.

“A sub-stage 1A stand-alone battery will allow subsequent solar farm sub-stages to more readily proceed by making direct use of connection infrastructure made possible by the battery.”

3D rendering of proposed Bulli Creek Solar Farm near Millmerran by company Solar Choice. Photo Contributed

Mr Gemmell said the move was in response to the large amount of rooftop solar currently in Queensland, which reduced the retail price to zero or negative during the day.

“The original intent of the development approval application since 2013 was to include multiple solar farm components with battery storage optionality as evidenced by the inclusion of eight BESS location,” he wrote.

“Given the retail electricity price during daytime hours in Queensland frequently goes to zero or negative due to the preponderance of rooftop solar in Queensland, a large first sub-stage stand-alone BESS is being viewed by Solar Choice and our prospective investor as having a compelling business case in the nearer term, and to provide the optimal path to in due course unlocking the multi-gigawatt solar farm generation grid and land capacity for the Bulli Creek project.”

Each of the three stages will include sub-staging.

The council has yet to respond to the change application.

Solar Choice, which initiated the project in 2013, took full control of it after its US investor pulled out last year.

Mr Gemmell told industry publications the company was exploring green hydrogen as part of Bulli Creek.