Approval has been given for a 150MWh battery retrofit at a Queensland solar farm by Elliott Green Power Australia (EGP), with the solar investment fund currently seeking to sell its assets and exit the industry.
EGP plans to add the 50MW/150MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at the same location as its existing 95MW Susan River Solar Farm.
The company also has plans for a 25MW/50MWh battery retrofit at its 75MW Childers Hill Solar Farm in the same region, adding 125MW of battery assets across its Australian solar portfolio and enhancing its value proposition to prospective buyers.
In addition to EGP’s solar projects in Queensland where BESS additions have already been approved, the company is developing a 50MW/100MWh BESS plan for its 132MW Nevertire Solar Farm in New South Wales, which is currently seeking approvals.
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Susan River Solar Farm is a $175 million 95MW project located on 170 hectares, 17km south of Hervey Bay, Queensland. It was officially opened in February 2019. Connected to the National Electricity Market, the 176ha solar farm will generate 180,000MWh of renewable energy per annum from 290,000 ground-mounted solar panels.
EGP is a wholly owned subsidiary of funds advised by Elliott Investment Management L.P. and an Independent Power Producer (IPP) with over 300MW of operating solar PV projects in Australia.
More than 900 jobs have been created throughout the construction phase of all three sites with local labour hires amounting to approximately 75 per cent of the workforce. Construction has made use of local quarries, concrete suppliers, contractors, surveyors, geo-technical engineering firms, hire equipment, fuel supplies and on-site amenities.
Construction of all three projects is was undertaken by Biosar, through its Australian arm.
