Equis Australia’s Lower Wonga battery energy storage system (BESS), situated near Gympie in Queensland, has received the green light from Powerlink and AEMO to join the national energy market.
This project is spearheaded, managed, and owned by Energy Infrastructure Australia, a subsidiary of Equis Australia, which is developing an impressive portfolio of 17 battery projects across Australia, cumulatively offering up to 4.4 GW of battery storage.
Project Overview
“The AUS$450 million Lower Wonga BESS boasts a battery energy storage capacity reaching 200 MW and a discharge capacity of up to 800 MW/h, sufficient to power up to 53,000 homes for four hours,” remarked Mahesh Reddy Indluri, Managing Director at Equis Australia.
Reddy emphasized the project’s role in providing affordable, clean, and reliable electricity to meet Queensland’s future energy needs.
The BESS is anticipated to generate approximately 115 full-time jobs during its construction and operational phases. Additionally, it will support local community initiatives based on the community’s feedback.
Benefits of the Lower Wonga BESS
The Lower Wonga BESS is designed to facilitate the integration of more solar and wind energy into the power grid, which will help mitigate grid volatility, reduce electricity costs, and lessen the need for costly new power plants.
Roby Camagong, Investment Director at Equis Australia, elaborated, “The BESS will connect to Queensland’s electricity grid via a transmission line linked to the 275 kV Woolooga Substation.”
Camagong further highlighted the transition from fossil fuels to ‘baseload’ renewables, stating that the ability to store and dispatch energy will be pivotal in providing rapid-response services during grid contingency events such as outages or heat waves. “Grid-scale battery storage plays a crucial short-term role in this transition,” he added.
Community Engagement and Economic Impact
Equis actively participated in the annual Fraser Coast and Gympie Regional Projects Industry Briefing and looks forward to collaborating with local and regional businesses to execute the project.
Camagong noted that the BESS project will significantly benefit the local economy during its construction and operational phases.
“We aim to commence work later this year and expect the BESS to be operational by 2026,” he stated.
Commitment to Renewable Energy
Across Australia, Equis is dedicated to investing in and delivering renewable assets that will support Australians and their communities for generations to come.
Reddy mentioned that Equis is currently developing a range of high-quality battery storage and wind generation projects in Queensland, including the newly announced Jackson North Wind Farm in Woleebee, Queensland.
Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub
In November 2023, Equis and the Victorian Government’s SEC financially closed and began the construction of Phase 1 of the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub (MREH).
Once completed, MREH will offer 1.6 GW/h of energy storage, enough to power up to 200,000 homes during peak demand periods.
Conclusion
Equis Australia is making significant strides in the renewable energy sector with projects like the Lower Wonga BESS. These initiatives not only promise a sustainable and reliable energy future for Queensland and Australia but also offer substantial economic and community benefits.