Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia is seeking federal approval for a 200MW battery energy storage system (BESS) project located near Townsville, Queensland.
The Block BESS project has been submitted to Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, which assesses a project’s potential environmental impacts and determines whether federal approval is required under national environmental legislation.
The planned duration of the battery storage project has not been disclosed at the time of reporting.
According to EPBC Act documents, the BESS will comprise ‘192 battery modules arranged in a grid configuration alongside 48 inverter transformers.’ Each battery unit incorporates integrated temperature regulation and fire suppression systems, and external monitoring capabilities will provide real-time operational oversight.
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The system’s modular nature will enable individual units to be transported to the site as complete assemblies, streamlining the construction process.
The facility will occupy a 4.68-hectare disturbance footprint within the larger site area, with the battery modules arranged in a compact grid formation to maximise operational efficiency.
Supporting infrastructure includes an operation and maintenance building, control and switch room, high voltage transformer, harmonic filter space, and 50,000-litre fire water tanks.
The documents read that the strategic positioning adjacent to the Ross River Substation provides operational advantages through minimised transmission losses via the short underground cable connection.
This proximity to existing grid infrastructure represents a key factor in the site selection process. The underground cable system connects directly to the 275/132 kV switchyard.
Samsung C&T has indicated an estimated construction start date of 31 March 2027. Operations are planned through 31 March 2059, providing a 32-year operational lifespan for the facility.
Other existing renewable energy projects are in close proximity to the Block BESS, including the 116MW Ross River Solar Farm.
This development follows Samsung C&T’s growing portfolio of Australian energy storage projects. The company recently submitted plans for a 300MWh solar-plus-storage project in Queensland, a 100MW/400MWh BESS in Western Australia and an 80MW/320MWh system in New South Wales to the EPBC Act.
Energy storage in Australia’s EPBC Act
Recent submissions to Australia’s EPBC Act demonstrate the scale of energy storage development underway nationwide, with multiple gigawatt-hour-scale projects advancing through regulatory processes.
Stor-Energy recently submitted plans for a 730MWh battery storage project in New South Wales. The project represents another significant addition to the NEM’s dispatchable capacity as developers respond to increasing demand for grid-scale storage solutions.
Origin Energy and Eku Energy submitted two battery energy storage systems totalling 2,200MWh for EPBC Act assessment. Indeed, Origin Energy submitted plans for its 800MW/1,000MWh Northern Tablelands wind-plus-storage site, whilst developer Eku Energy is seeking approval for its 300MW/1,200MWh Byellee standalone BESS.
In addition, Eku Energy also lodged its 400MW/1,600MWh Monduran BESS project for environmental assessment in Queensland. Alongside this, Zen Energy and Ace Power have submitted projects totalling 3,400MWh across Queensland and New South Wales.
Ingeteam inks 200MWh solar-plus-storage project supply contract with European Energy Australia
In other news, our sister site PV Tech reported yesterday that Spanish power electronics specialist Ingeteam has won a contract to supply inverters and control systems for European Energy Australia’s 200MWh Winton North solar-plus-storage project in northeast Victoria.
The Winton North project will be developed in two phases, comprising a 100MWac solar PV power plant followed by a 100MW/200MWh 2-hour battery storage system.
Once operational in 2027, the installation is expected to generate 227GWh of clean energy annually across a 256-hectare site. Construction of the Winton North project is expected to commence in 2026.
Under the agreement, Ingeteam will supply PV inverters, storage inverters, and a hybrid power plant control system. The scope includes plug-and-play medium-voltage power stations that integrate inverters, LV/MV transformers, MV switchgear and auxiliary services panels.
The company will also commission all equipment and provide its Multi Plant Controller system, which is designed to help grid operators manage the performance of both power plants while ensuring power quality and stability at the interconnection point.
You can read more about Ingeteam’s supply agreement with European Energy Australia on PV Tech.
