Overview
Powerlink has been engaged to connect Neoen’s Western Downs Green Power Hub to the existing Western Downs Substation.
The 460MW renewable energy hub is located south-east of Chinchilla and is expected to generate energy to power around 235,000 homes.
The project involved building six kilometres of transmission line and associated substation connection works.
Status
Solar Farm
The Western Downs Green Power Hub is home to Australia's largest currently operating solar farm. Connected to Powerlink's Western Downs Substation. Neoen's Western Downs Green Power Hub Solar Farm hosts 1 million solar panels supplying 460MW of renewable energy.
Powerlink's construction works for the solar farm grid connection project were completed during 2021. Final testing and commissioning activities occurred in 2023.
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
The Western Downs Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) became a Powerlink committed project in December 2023 with the connection expected to be back energised by mid 2024.
Neoen launched construction of its 200MW/400MWh Western Downs BESS in late 2022 before announcing in mid 2023 it was increasing the installed capacity to 270MW/540MWh, making it the largest BESS in the pipeline to connect to Powerlink’s network.
The scope of work includes substation bench extension works, a new 275kV feeder bay and a six kilometre-long 275kV transmission line into the Western Downs Substation.
