According to foreign media reports, Singapore infrastructure developer and investor Equis submitted a development application for a 200MW/800MWh battery energy storage project deployed in Queensland, Australia, and sought approval.
Equis submitted its proposed application for developing the Lower Wonga battery energy storage system to the Gympie Regional Committee before the end of 2022.
The energy storage system will be connected to the Queensland power grid through the transmission line of the existing 275kV Woolooga substation of the power grid operator Powerlink.
The renderings of the MREH battery energy storage project planned by Equis in Victoria. This battery energy storage system, with a total energy storage capacity of 2.4GWh, will be the most extensive battery energy storage system in Australia so far.
Just like other battery energy storage projects in Australia, this independently deployed lithium-ion battery energy storage system will be able to provide more renewable energy generation to the power grid, aiming to help stabilize the fluctuation of electricity prices.
Equis began to submit this project proposal as early as February 2022 and then began to discuss it with the Queensland Assessment and Recommendation Agency (SARA).
According to the 487 pages of planning materials publicly displayed on the website of the Gympie District Committee, the project will be deployed in the South Queensland Renewable Energy Zone (Queensland REZ). This is one of many renewable energy projects designated by the Australian state government, and multiple energy storage systems are deployed under appropriate circumstances.
The local government has approved the construction of four large-scale solar power generation facilities. A 350MW solar power generation facility will have a battery energy storage system.
Equis has applied for a development license for significant changes in the land use of the site and a development license for land re-allocation, and its land lease period is over seven years. This battery energy storage system covers an area of 7 hectares and will be equipped with 640 battery cabinets, 80 inverters, four auxiliary transformers, and two high-voltage transformers.
Equis announced in November last year that it hoped to develop Melbourne Renewable Energy Center (MREH), Australia's largest battery energy storage project in Victoria. The project will deploy and operate a 1200MW/4200MWh battery energy storage system.
Equis claims its design will be unique, connecting six independently deployed 200MW battery energy storage systems to the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM) through a 500kV transmission network.
Equis Development supports Equis Australia. After selling the original Equis fund management platform, the company became an infrastructure developer in 2019. Equis Development focuses on deploying renewable energy and natural gas power generation projects in the Asian market, with Australia, South Korea, and Japan as its main markets.
In addition to the planned deployment of the Melbourne Renewable Energy Center (MREH) and Lower Wonga battery energy storage system, the company also listed two other large-scale battery energy storage projects in Australia on its website: Calala battery energy storage project planned to be deployed in Tamworth, New South Wales, with a scale of 300 MW/1200 MWh; Koolunga battery energy storage project planned to be deployed in Brinkworth, South Australia, with a scale of 200MW/800MWh.
