ZEN Energy has plans to build a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Swanbank.
The Noblevale BESS would be 750m west of Powerlink’s Blackstone 110kV/275kV substation.
The BESS would store electricity when there is surplus in the network and provide power into the grid at times of peak demand.
The BESS would have a capacity of 180 MW, with total storage duration of two hours and a storage capacity of 360 MWh.
At its peak, around 30 staff would be employed from the local talent pool.
Council mapping indicates that the north-west corner of the site is affected by flooding.
The development application stated the project would have an operational lifetime of 30 years and then be decommissioned.
The site contains mapped core koala habitat and would mean the loss of 17 mature koala habitat trees.
The DA stated: “There are abundant records of koalas within the surrounding area, and due to the tree species present and the level of connectivity to surrounding habitat patches.
“The potential for injury, mortality and orphaning of fauna species will be minimised by implementing the fauna management and mitigation measures.”
Zen builds solar and storage assets and sells the firmed energy to commercial and industrial businesses under power purchase agreements.
Taiwan’s HD Renewable Energy (HDRE) and Zen Energy last year secured a 795MW greenfield solar PV and energy storage portfolio spanning four projects in Australia.
The joint venture, ZEBRE, has an estimated total development volume of 695MW of energy storage and 100MW of solar with projects in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria.
Anthony Garnaut is CEO of Zen Energy and father Ross Garnaut is a director and the main investor in the business.
Mr Garnaut Snr was adviser to the Rudd and Gillard governments on transitioning to battery, solar and wind and remains one of Zen’s largest shareholders.
Mr Garnaut’s views on climate became less desirable when the Coalition, led by Tony Abbott, defeated the Labor government in 2013 after statements on the effects of carbon pricing.
