- X-ELIO will build a 148 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) at the Blue Grass solar farm, making it X-ELIO’s first hybrid solar and storage project in Australia
- The batteries will be developed in two phases, hybridizing the existing 200 MW solar farm
22 October 2024. X-ELIO, a global leader in the renewable energy sector, has announced the expansion of its Blue Grass Solar Farm, located in Queensland’s Western Downs, with the addition of a 148 MW Battery Energy Storage System. The new facility will be constructed in two stages.
The first stage, which is expected to reach mechanical completion by Q3 2025, will develop a 60 MW BESS. The second stage will deliver another 88 MW BESS and expects to reach mechanical completion by Q3 2026. This development makes Blue Grass X-ELIO’s first hybrid solar and storage project in Australia.
This farm, officially inaugurated in November 2022, boasts a capacity of 200 MW and generates 420 GWh of green energy annually. It was originally developed to support Queensland’s Renewable Energy Target (QRET). This project contributes significantly to the Queensland Government’s plan to generate 70% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2032, and 80% by 2035, as outlined in the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.
The expansion of the solar farm with BESS technology will enhance the existing infrastructure, allowing it to deploy a grid-forming battery inverters, and transforming the plant into a hybrid power source capable of providing essential grid services. The integration of battery systems will allow the solar farm to store excess energy generated during peak solar hours and release it when demand is high or when solar generation is lower, enabling participation in grid services and enhancing both energy reliability and grid stability. This is the result of the collaboration between X-ELIO and technology partners Ingeteam and Narada.
Mirko Molinari, CCO at X-ELIO, commented: “Following our 60 MW BESS project in the U.S. and our entry into the German battery company ECO STOR, we are now continuing to implement our storage strategy in Australia. This project will support grid resiliency in Queensland and enhance our solar farm’s resilience to price volatility. We are excited about the prospects of BESS in Australia and believe its deployment greatly supports grids with high renewables penetration”.
About X-ELIO
X-ELIO, a Brookfield-owned company, specializes in the development, construction, financing, and operation of renewable energy projects with a global presence in Spain, Italy, the United States, Latin America, the Middle East, Japan, and Australia. With more than 19 years of experience and 2.8 GW built, this world-leading company is strongly committed to sustainability, the reduction of greenhouse gasses, and the fight against climate change.
For more information, please visit our website at www.X-ELIO.com, our LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/company/x-elio, or our X profile at https://twitter.com/X_Elio.
Press Contact:
Isabel Ruiz
T: +34 696 37 32 29
