State-owned energy company Stanwell Corporation has commenced commercial operations of its 300MW/600MWh Tarong battery energy storage system (BESS) in Queensland.
Located adjacent to the Tarong Power Station, a 1.4GW coal-fired power station in the South Burnett region, the battery storage system is Stanwell’s first wholly-owned dispatchable energy storage project and is now actively participating in the National Electricity Market (NEM).
The Tarong Battery, with its 2-hour storage duration, is designed to store energy during periods of high renewable energy generation and discharge it back into the grid during peak demand.
One of the perks of the system is its ability to respond within fractions of a second, providing essential firming capacity to stabilise the grid and support Queensland’s growing renewable energy portfolio.
Try Premium for just $1
- Full premium access for the first month at only $1
- Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
- Cancel anytime during the trial period
Premium Benefits
- Expert industry analysis and interviews
- Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
- Exclusive event discounts
Or get the full Premium subscription right away
Or continue reading this article for free
Queensland’s treasurer and minister for energy, David Janetzki, highlighted the project’s importance as part of the state’s broader Energy Roadmap, which targets having up to 4.3GW of short-duration energy storage operational by 2030 and an additional 4GW of medium-duration storage by 2035.
“Batteries for firming and storage are critical to our Energy Roadmap, delivering affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for Queensland,” Janetzki said.
He also noted that the state-owned energy businesses are investing AU$379 million (US$267 million) in large-scale BESS at existing power station sites and AU$135 million in network-scale battery systems across the distribution network this financial year.
The Tarong Battery is a cornerstone of Stanwell’s 2.8GWh battery firming portfolio, which includes another large-scale battery storage system under construction near Rockhampton.
It was first announced back in 2022, with plans to diversify Queensland’s energy mix. At the time, the only major operational renewable energy asset was a 4.3MW hydroelectric plant. Since then, battery energy storage has become a key part of the debate in securing the state’s energy resilience.
In December last year, Stanwell secured a capacity purchase agreement with Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners for the 780MW/6,240MWh Gladstone State Development Area (GDSA) Energy Hub Project.
The Tarong Battery leverages Stanwell’s experience in operating and maintaining coal-fired power stations, transitioning this into building a more flexible and reliable energy system. It also increases the Tarong site’s overall capacity to 2.1GW, further solidifying its role as an energy hub in Queensland.
The construction of the Tarong Battery created 80 full-time jobs and provided numerous contract opportunities for local suppliers, benefiting small businesses across the South Burnett region.
Stanwell has also committed to supporting local communities through training and capacity-building programs, helping residents develop skills for careers in the evolving energy sector.
Elsewhere in Queensland, publicly-owned energy company CleanCo Queensland has officially opened the 250MW/500MWh Swanbank BESS, adding to the state’s energy storage arsenal.
The Energy Storage Summit Australia 2026 will be returning to Sydney on 18-19 March. It features keynote speeches and panel discussions on topics such as the Capacity Investment Scheme, long-duration energy storage, and BESS revenue streams. ESN Premium subscribers receive an exclusive discount on ticket prices.
To secure your tickets and learn more about the event, please visit the official website.
