The Bungaban solar and battery project has received a green tick from the federal government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, supporting continued progress towards financial close and delivery.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water earlier this month advised that the project – being developed through a 50/50 joint venture between Andrew Forrest’s Squadron Energy and Windlab – is not a controlled action and therefore does not require approval under the EPBC Act.
The project, comprising a 500 MW solar facility and a 400 MW battery energy storage system (BESS), is to be built at Bungaban, about 50 kilometres northeast of Wandoan in Queensland’s Western Downs region, on a 1,500-hectare site historically used for cattle grazing.
The solar and battery project is being developed alongside Squadron Energy and Windlab’s 1.4 GW Bungaban wind project which last week also secured approval under the EPBC Act.
Squadron said while the projects are “strategically sited” in the same area, the Bungaban solar and battery project is separate to the wind development, with its own planning approvals, grid connection arrangements, and financing.
The developer did however highlight that their location “creates opportunities to share infrastructure and maximise the benefits of the region’s renewable energy potential.”
“By combining complementary wind, solar, and battery technologies, the Bungaban projects have the potential to deliver renewable electricity across more hours of the day, supporting a reliable and resilient electricity system,” Squadron said.
Squadron said the delivery of the co-located solar, battery, and wind projects will be staged to optimise infrastructure and support efficient project delivery.
Construction of the solar and battery project is expected to start in mid-2028 with construction of the wind project anticipated to begin in 2027.
The Bungaban wind project, a winner in Australia’s seventh Capacity Investment Scheme tender, is backed by a 25-year power purchase agreement with Rio Tinto which has signed up for 80% of its output to power its Queensland alumina refineries.
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