Elements Green expects up to 500 jobs to be generated during peak production

A UK company says a massive project on remote land south of Gladstone will generate enough electricity to power 200,000 homes per annum.

Elements Green says its 696-megawat (MW) solar farm 666-MW BESS battery south of Gladstone will generate enough electricity to supply power to 200,000 homes.

One of Australia’s largest renewal energy projects being developed south of Gladstone is expected to cost $2b by the time it begins production in 2028, pending final government approvals.

UK-based solar and energy storage developer Elements Green updated Gladstone Regional Council on the progress of the massive Eurimbula BESS project taking place on almost 3000ha of land in a remote area east of Bororen.

The location of the Elements Green renewable energy projects south of Gladstone.

The former Rodds Bay Solar Farm has been expanded to a 696-megawatt (MW) solar farm 666-MW BESS battery which Elements Green says will generate enough electricity to supply 200,000 homes yearly and provide 7 per cent of Queensland’s 2030 renewal energy target.

Gladstone Regional Council’s approval for the development expires in August and Elements Green Country Australia Manager Toby Roberts said the company was working with council officers regarding a time extension.

He said they had already invested $400m in the project and wanted to begin construction next year and finish in 2028 with a focus on locally based workforce and peak employment of between 450 and 550 jobs.

The site of the Elements Green solar farm and big battery project south of Gladstone near Bororen.

“Gladstone is very good at building big things so we want to tap into that as best we can,” he said.

The company’s current focus is finalising transmission line plans and achieving Federal Government environmental approval.

Mr Roberts said the transmission section of the project had taken almost two years to date and they were waiting on final capital expenditure quotes from Powerlink before final approval towards connection later in the year.

“Transmission is a very important part of the project and is something that needs to come first,” he said.

“We have done a huge amount work with Powerlink and AEMO (Australian Energy Market Operator).”

Mr Roberts said one of the benefits of the site was that it was in a remote location and was “very flat” and well-positioned from a transmission point of view.

“It makes it ideal for hosting the battery, particularly as it is near the demand centre of Gladstone,” he said.

“What we’ve done with the site is basically work with the features of the land. We’re not trying to clear vegetation; we’re not trying to build solar panels from fence to fence.”

The plan of the 2825ha site for the Element Green solar farm and BESS battery project showing infrastructure placed away from creeks and habitat areas.

He said as a result of their land management they would be using less than half the 2825ha site with panels and infrastructure placed well away from creeks and habitat areas where there were a number species located, such as gliders, pigeons and koalas.

“There is fairly minimal ground preparation required, and the clearing is from re-growth as opposed to remnant or protected (vegetation),” he said.

The company owns the land outright which is an advantage as there was no lease involved.

“We do have a good working relationship with resident farmer John Bell (former mayor of Miriam Vale Shire Council),” he said.

There is an agistment arrangement with him as he still has cattle on the property and they wanted to continue that relationship once the project was operating.

Elements Green’s website says it is committed to the development of onshore renewable energy assets globally, with a specialist focus on utility-scale, ground-mounted solar PV systems and battery storage solutions.

Originally published as Elements Green expects up to 500 jobs to be generated during peak production