Stanwell begins construction of $498m energy storage in Queensland

Tesla and Yurika were tapped for the project.

Stanwell has commenced construction of its 300 megawatt (MW)/1,200 megawatt-hours (MWh) Stanwell Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) near Rockhampton, Central Queensland which is being transformed into a clean energy hub.

In a statement, Stanwell said it partnered with Tesla and Yurika to build the $498m (A$747m) project, which will feature 324 lithium-ion Tesla Megapack 2XL units.

This project recently received a $298.8m (A$448.2m) funding boost from the Miles Government’s Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Job Fund.

The battery system is due to be operational in mid-2027. Once completed, the project has the capacity to power the equivalent of 203,000 homes

Stanwell also said works have reached the halfway mark for its $342.67m (A$514m) Tarong mega battery project. The heavy lifting on all 164 Tesla Megapack 2XL battery units have been completed with work now underway to connect them to the transformers.

Construction on the 300MW / 600MWh project commenced in August 2023 and is due to be fully operational mid-2025. This facility has the capacity to power 101,000 homes.

The Tarong project is the company’s first dispatchable energy (storage) project, which will be part of the Tarong Clean Energy Hub.

“They are a key piece of our commitment to achieving 5GW [gigawatts] of energy storage by 2035 and highlights Stanwell’s vision for a sustainable and innovative energy future,” Stanwell CEO Michael O’Rourke said.

$1=A$1.50