Vena Energy, Asia-Pacific’s leading renewable energy company, has commenced commercial operation of the Wandoan South Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), the first utility-scale battery in Queensland and one of the largest in Australia. 

The Wandoan South BESS is located approximately 400km north-west of Brisbane in the Darling Downs region and is connected to Powerlink’s Wandoan South Substation. 

The project has a capacity of 100 megawatts and can store up to 150 megawatt-hours of energy – equivalent to powering approximately 57,000 average-sized Australian households annually. The project was shortlisted as a finalist in the 2022 Clean Energy Council Innovation Awards.

Owen Sela, Head of Vena Energy Australia said reaching operational status for the Wandoan South BESS represents a transformative milestone for both Vena Energy’s mission and Australia’s renewable energy future.

“We believe that energy storage is the key in addressing the intermittency of renewable energy, and the Wandoan South BESS will play a pivotal role in in the acceleration of Australia’s green energy transformation and contributing to climate change mitigation. With the largest utility scale battery in Queensland now operational, it will encourage more renewable energy generation and help manage the supply and demand balance in the national electricity grid.”

“The Wandoan South BESS contributes to an environmentally sustainable energy future in Australia. This project will be influential in Queensland’s transition to a cleaner energy future and will ultimately lead the way for more investment in the state’s adoption of renewable energy,” Mr Sela said.

“Vena Energy Australia is committed to investing in projects that stimulate the local, regional and national economy for the foreseeable future. A majority of the workforce involved in construction was sourced from regional Queensland.”

Full operational dispatch rights of the Wandoan South BESS have now been formally handed over to Australia’s largest electricity provider, AGL, on a fixed long-term contract for 15 years.

“Now that it is fully operational, we’re very pleased to be able to offer our customers secure, reliable, clean energy with the addition of the Wandoan South BESS,” AGL Chief Operating Officer, Markus Brokhof said. 

“Storage projects like the Wandoan South BESS will enable AGL to leverage excess solar generation in Queensland and provide capacity when renewable energy projects, such as AGL’s Cooper’s Gap Wind Farm in Queensland are not generating or when the energy market needs it.”

Western Downs Regional Council Mayor, Paul McVeigh said the Western Downs had long been an advocate for renewable energy and our region’s numerous advantages and opportunities, and a focus on supporting growth and innovation has made it the Energy Capital of Queensland.

“It is very exciting to see this project, and emerging energy technology establishing itself here in the Western Down where the energy sector can take advantage of Council’s support for proactive and innovative developments and enjoy the geographic, environmental, and connectivity opportunities the region offers,” Cr McVeigh said.