The Spain-based renewable energy firm X-Elio plans to add a 148-MW battery energy storage system (BESS) to its 200-MW Blue Grass solar farm in Queensland, marking the company's first hybrid solar storage project in Australia.
X-Elio Expands Blue Grass Solar Farm with Battery Storage
X-Elio plans to enhance its operational Blue Grass solar farm with battery storage in two phases. The first phase will involve installing a 60 MW battery energy storage system (BESS), expected to reach mechanical completion by late 2025. The second phase will add 88 MW of battery storage to the project in Queensland’s Western Downs region, with completion anticipated in 2026.
“Following our 60 MW BESS project in the US and our entry into the German battery company ECO STOR, we are now continuing to implement our storage strategy in Australia. This [Blue Grass] project will support grid resiliency in Queensland and enhance our solar farm’s resilience to price volatility. We are excited about the prospects of BESS in Australia and believe its deployment greatly supports grids with high renewables penetration.” said Mirko Molinari, X-Elio’s Chief Commercial Officer.
While the specific battery technology and duration have not been detailed, it is expected that lithium-based technologies will be used. Notably, this expansion will mark X-Elio’s first hybrid project in Australia, following the recent approval to proceed with another nearby hybrid project, the Sixteen Mile solar farm and battery.
Blue Grass PV Park Delivers 420 GWh Annually
The Blue Grass solar farm in Queensland’s Western Downs region was commissioned in November 2022. It features 375,000 bifacial modules and generates approximately 420 GWh annually with its output sold through off-take agreements with Salesforce.com Inc., the Queensland government-owned energy generator Stanwell Corp and power retailer Zen Energy.
The integration of BESS will allow the solar farm to store excess energy generated during peak solar hours and release it during high-demand periods or when solar generation is low. This capability will facilitate participation in grid services, enhancing both energy reliability and grid stability by providing stored power to the grid when needed.
Hybrid Solar Storage to Be Followed by Sixteen Mile Project
X-Elio stated that the addition of the battery will make the Blue Grass solar project its first hybrid venture in Australia. This will soon be followed by the Sixteen Mile project, also located in the Western Downs which will combine 350 MW of solar power with a 120 MW/240 MWh battery system.
The expansion of the Blue Grass solar farm project will incorporate BESS technology and the deployment of grid-forming battery inverters, transforming the plant into a hybrid power source capable of delivering essential grid services to the region. For this initiative, the company has partnered with Ingeteam and Narada as technology providers, enhancing the existing infrastructure to improve grid support.