Whitehaven Energy, a subsidiary of coal producer Whitehaven Coal and renewable energy generator and retailer Pacific Blue, landed key milestones in developing solar-plus-storage projects in Australia last week.
Our colleagues at PV Tech reported that Whitehaven Energy is seeking Australian government approval for a 26MW solar-plus-storage project in New South Wales, whilst Pacific Blue has been granted council approval for a 300MW solar-plus-storage expansion in north Queensland.
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Pacific Blue has been granted council approval for a 300MW solar-plus-storage expansion in North Queensland.
Whitehaven to use solar PV and BESS to decarbonise coal mine in New South Wales
Whitehaven’s proposal, available to view on the Australian government’s EPBC portal, aims to decarbonise the operations of Whitehaven’s Narrabri coal mine in New South Wales by utilising a 26MW solar PV power plant with an accompanying battery energy storage system (BESS).
The Narrabri coal mine has been in operation since 2012 and employs around 500 people. It is located 521km northwest of the state capital, Sydney, and has been approved to extract up to 11 million tonnes of coal annually until 2031. It will continue operating until 2044.
Whitehaven confirmed in its scoping report that the project will require a capital investment of around AU$45 million (US$29 million). The operational lifespan of the solar PV power plant would be 50 years, thus surpassing the decommission date for the coal mine.
Pacific Blue wins council approval for 300MW solar-plus-storage site
Revealed last week, Pacific Blue’s Haughton Solar Farm, a 100MW solar PV power plant located 60km south of Townsville, will add 300MW of solar PV generation capacity to the project alongside a co-located 200MW/400MWh BESS.
North Queensland’s Burdekin Shire Council approved the plans for the expansion.
Pacific Blue CEO Domenic Capomolla said the development approval of stage two is a key milestone in creating the company’s proposed Burdekin Renewables Hub.
“Once this stage is complete, Haughton Solar Farm is expected to have a generating capacity of up to 500MW and enough power for around 290,000 homes. This project is the second stage of the four-part plan for Pacific Blue’s Burdekin Renewables Hub,” Capomolla said.
Northern Territory to integrate BESS into AU$400 million renewable energy hub
Elsewhere in Australia, Northern Territory government has proposed developing an AU$400 million renewable energy hub featuring six solar PV power plants and a single BESS in the region.
The hub involves the co-location of up to six large-scale solar farms, capable of generating 180-210MW of renewable energy, alongside a BESS on a single site near existing network infrastructure. The size of the BESS has not been disclosed.
The hub’s development is expected to last from 2025 to 2030, subject to a final investment decision on the project. It will be located on 940 hectares of Crown Land about 19km south of Palmerston and 4km north of Berry Springs.
These stories appeared as separate items on PV Tech, our solar PV technology website. Read the originals here:
Whitehaven seeks EPBC approval for 26MW solar-plus-storage site at coal mine in Australia
