UGL, a member of the CIMIC Group, has been appointed to design and construct Stage 2 of the Western Downs Battery in Queensland for Neoen, one of the world’s leading producers of exclusively renewable energy.
UGL will install a 270 MW / 540 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and the high voltage infrastructure to connect it to the grid at Neoen’s Western Downs Green Power Hub. The BESS will consist of 140 Tesla Megapack 2XL units and is expected to start operations in 2026.
UGL is currently constructing Stage 1 of the Western Downs Battery (also sized at 270 MW / 540 MWh), which is expected to start operations later this year.
Following construction, both batteries will work alongside Neoen’s 460 MWp Western Downs solar farm at the same site and allow stored energy to be transmitted into the electricity network.
CIMIC Executive Chairman Juan Santamaria said: “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. 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.”
UGL Managing Director Doug Moss said: “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.”
UGL will commence work on the project in the coming weeks, with an aim to commence operations in 2026.