A large-scale battery is to be added to Queensland’s power network after Callide fire

Late last month ABC news reported a large-scale battery is to be added to Queensland’s power network as experts ask for more renewables due to the Callide fire. The Queensland government is connecting the state’s biggest battery to the power transmission network at Wandoan in the Darling Downs.

The explosion at the Callide Power Station on Tuesday 25th May resulted in a “catastrophic” turbine failure, leaving homes and businesses without power for several hours.

Experts push for more renewable energy with battery power as the right call

• Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said the government-owned company Powerlink were working together with Vena Energy on the project titled Wandoan South Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) which will make it the largest battery in Queensland. 
• Tarong Power Station in the Darling Downs is also planned to have a 150-megawatt battery.
• Earlier this year, the state government announced a battery storage trial at five locations across regional Queensland as it looked into renewable options. 
• The network-connected batteries in Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Townsville, Yeppoon and Toowoomba will jointly store up to 40 megawatt-hours.

Energy experts say that by taking up batteries and renewables to widen Queensland’s power sources it could free the state from another blackout.

ABC reports the Lowy Institute’s annual climate poll, released on Wednesday 26th May, showed that 63% of Australians supported a ban on new coal mines opening in Australia. The drive for renewables comes as new figures show a growing number of Australians rejecting coal.

Click here to read the full story on ABC.

For more news, information, and stories on solar and renewable energy, you can check this page out for more.