The Federal Government has committed a $100 million investment to deliver two regional big batteries and a solar farm that will power 160,000 Australian homes as part of its Reliable Renewables Plan.
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation will provide $100 million to Neoen to support 1.3GW of renewable energy and battery storage, including three new projects across the country.
- Collie Battery Stage 2 to provide critical support for the Western Australian energy grid
- Western Downs Battery Stage 1 in Queensland to support more renewable energy into the National Electricity Market (NEM)
- Culcairn Solar Farm in southwest New South Wales
Neoen has already delivered Collie Battery Stage 1, which started operating ahead of schedule, less than 18 months after construction began. This battery provides four hours of storage – it is charged during the day and discharges energy across the evening peak.
Together, Collie Battery Stage 1 and Stage 2 will have the ability to charge and discharge 20 per cent of the average demand in Western Australia’s southwest grid.
The Federal Government said the Collie Battery Stage 2 will create 150 construction jobs.
The Western Downs Battery Stage 1, near Chinchilla in Queensland, is expected to leverage leading-edge technology and connect into Australia’s national electricity grid to provide energy reliability and stability, being called on in peak evening demand.
The Federal Government said once complete, the Culcairn Solar Farm will generate enough energy to power more than twice the number of homes in the Riverina region of New South Wales.
Currently under construction, it is creating more than 400 construction jobs and will distribute $300,000 each year in community benefit-sharing. The project will be operational in 2026.
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, said the Federal Government is deploying Australia’s largest green bank to invest in reliable renewable energy right now, creating the clean, cheap and secure energy grid Australians deserve.
“This latest partnership with Neoen will see three regional communities benefit from jobs and local economic activity, while our electricity system stores our abundant solar and wind through the day, ready to be discharged at night.
Federal Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Josh Wilson, said the expanded Collie Battery Energy Storage System will create 150 construction jobs and be able to supply 20 percent of evening peak demand in the Western Australian energy grid that supplies the state’s southwest, including Perth.
“In just two years, the Federal Government has overseen a 25 per cent increase in renewable energy generation, and we are delivering grid-scale batteries to firm-up the cheaper, cleaner energy that Australians expect.
The CEFC is now backing more than 2.3GW in new battery capacity across nine projects Australia-wide and more than 6.2GW of clean energy generation.
