CIMIC Group’s UGL has been selected to undertake the design and construction of Stage 2 of Neoen’s Western Downs Battery project in Queensland.
The project will involve the installation of a 270 MW / 540 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), along with the necessary high-voltage infrastructure to connect it to the grid at Neoen’s Western Downs Green Power Hub.
The system will include 140 Tesla Megapack 2XL units, with operations expected to commence in 2026, the CIMIC Group said in a news release.
The appointment follows UGL’s ongoing work on Stage 1 of the Western Downs Battery, which is of the same capacity and is slated to begin operations later this year.
Once completed, both battery systems will function alongside Neoen’s 460 MWp Western Downs solar farm, facilitating the transmission of stored energy into Queensland’s electricity network.
CIMIC Executive Chairman Juan Santamaria highlighted the significance of the project, stating, “With greater capacity, Western Downs Battery will have an even more crucial role in Queensland’s rapidly accelerating energy transition, as the state strives to reach 80% renewable energy by 2035.”
He continued, “We’re excited to further contribute to what will be Queensland’s most powerful battery and the Queensland SuperGrid via the second stage of works.”
Doug Moss, UGL managing director, expressed confidence in UGL’s capabilities, noting, “UGL is a leader in the design, construction and commissioning of renewable energy assets across Australia, having constructed 13 solar farms and seven large?scale batteries.”
“We have an excellent relationship with Neoen, one of the world’s leading clean energy producers, as well as with Tesla, and we’re pleased to combine again on our fifth BESS installation with them.”
Construction on Stage 2 is set to begin in the coming weeks, with the project expected to be operational by 2026.
