Octopus Australia gets nod for 500 MW / 1,000 MWh battery near Brisbane, Queensland

Octopus Australia, the Australian unit of Britain's Octopus Group announced it had received planning approval for a 500 MW/ 1,000 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Queensland.

The battery, named Blackstone, will house one of the largest batteries in the Queensland, will store enough electricity to run up to 70,000 homes per day. It will be located near Brisbane and contribute to Queensland's aim of achieving 80 percent renewable energy by 2035.

It will also aid the company's renewable power generation assets. "Once constructed, the battery project will compliment Octopus's other wind and solar assets in Queensland, including the operational Dulacca Wind Farm and the Ardandra Battery and Solar Farm currently in development," Octopus Australia said in its release, adding: "This integration will allow Octopus to shift generation between its assets, optimising supply, and mitigating intermittency."

Octopus Australia said it would now collaborate closely with key stakeholders, including Firm Power and Powerlink, to move into the next phases of the project.

Sonia Teitel, Co-Managing Director, Renewables Australia, Octopus, commented on the development: "The planning approval for the Blackstone Battery is a significant step towards building Octopus's integrated portfolio of multi-technology renewable assets. The Blackstone Battery will play a pivotal role in delivering reliable renewable energy generation in Queensland and supporting the state's transition towards a renewable future."