The Queensland Government has announced that the delivery of the Brigalow Peaking Power Plant – the state’s first renewable energy peaking plant – is officially underway, signalling a major step forward for Queensland’s renewable energy future
CS Energy is leading the development of the project, which aims to help decrease Queensland’s reliance on fossil gas – the peaking plant will initially be capable of operating on 35 per cent renewable hydrogen, with a pathway to 100 per cent hydrogen over time.
CS Energy signed an agreement with the global energy company GE Vernova for the supply of the key equipment for the Brigalow Peaking Power Plant equipment, to be rolled out at the future Kogan Creek clean energy hub in the Western Downs.
The open-cycle power station will underpin energy security for Queenslanders, with fast-start capability, and the ability to operate in high demand periods to support variable solar and wind energy.
The plant will consist of 12 GE aeroderivative turbines (LM2500XPRESS) with a capacity of 33MW per unit, and with a capacity of 400MW, it will have the ability to power more than 75,000 homes during peak demand periods.
Renewable hydrogen will initially be sourced from CS Energy’s Kogan Renewable Hydrogen Demonstration Plant, with the production of renewable hydrogen expected to be scaled up through the development of a commercial scale hydrogen production facility as part of the Kogan Clean Energy Hub.
Once complete, the power station will connect into the Banana Bridge substation, requiring only a few hundred metres of new transmission line on CS Energy-owned land.
Planning and environmental approvals for the power station will be submitted in late 2023.
The signing between CS Energy and GE Vernova marks the first major equipment order for the project and follows extensive studies to inform its design.
The power station is scheduled to be operational in 2026, subject to final approvals.
Queensland Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni, said, “The Brigalow Peaking Power Plant will have fast-start capability – taking just five minutes to go from cold to full output, and thanks to Queensland’s public ownership keeping energy assets in the hands of Queenslanders, we can deliver it.
“The Brigalow Peaking Power Plant demonstrates the opportunity for real action on climate change, moving away from fossil-fuels to green hydrogen produced here in Queensland from our abundant sun, wind and water.
“We know that green hydrogen has the potential to deliver 10,000 jobs and boost the economy by $33 billion by 2040, and that is why we’re backing this venture, as part of our commitment to the greatest jobs, climate and export opportunity in a generation.”
CS Energy CEO, Darren Busine, said that the company is committed to securing a balanced mix of energy sources that can meet our customers’ decarbonisation requirements and support the delivery of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.
“The open-cycle design of the Brigalow Peaking Power Plant provides the ability for multiple start/stop cycles per day and the ability to ramp up to full power output within five minutes.
“This project is an example of how we are creating clean energy hubs at our power stations to deliver the energy mix needed to reliably transition the grid to renewable energy while also providing opportunities for our workforce to reskill,” said Mr Busine.
