CleanCo to pilot Australia’s largest grid-connected NAS Battery at Swanbank Clean Energy Hub

Published: 30 September, 2024

• Providing at least six hours of energy storage, a 1.5MW NAS Battery at Swanbank would be one of the first in Queensland and the largest grid-connected sodium sulphur battery in Australia.  

• CleanCo is advancing Queensland’s clean energy ambitions and exploring the feasibility of installing Australia’s largest grid-connected NAS® Battery Energy Storage System at the Swanbank Clean Energy Hub in Ipswich. 

• CleanCo will partner with Allset Energy to progress a feasibility study to finalise the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreement for the project, with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to serve as the project’s knowledge-sharing partner. 
  

CleanCo is reinforcing its commitment to Queensland’s clean energy future by exploring the potential to trial Australia’s largest grid-connected NAS® Battery Energy Storage System at the Swanbank Clean Energy Hub in Ipswich. Discussions are under way to assess how this cutting-edge technology could enhance grid reliability and support Queensland’s energy transformation.

This cutting-edge sodium sulphur battery technology delivered by Allset Energy will bolster CleanCo’s ability to deliver reliable, low-emission energy to its customers – some of Queensland’s largest employers – while supporting the state’s transition to renewable energy.

The 1.5MW NAS Battery will have the capacity to dispatch electricity for at least six hours and in an Australian first, the stackable, modular design, offers a scalable, space-saving solution that can expand to gigawatt scale.

The pilot is proposed to take place on the site of one of Swanbank’s decommissioned coal-fired power stations. The location is ideally suited to host the NAS Battery, with its proximity to Queensland’s largest energy demand.

The partnership between Allset and CleanCo is a result of CleanCo’s proactive market engagement to identify emerging energy generation and storage technologies suitable for its Swanbank site. The parties will progress a feasibility study to finalise the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) agreement to support a final investment decision for the battery’s installation.

The Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) Energy Storage Research Group will play a key role as the knowledge sharing partner, bringing a wealth of knowledge to the project, having commissioned Australia’s first NAS Battery in 2023. 

The study is expected to be completed in early 2025 to support an investment decision in the same year, with the project potentially operational by mid-2026.

Learnings from the pilot project will include understanding the value of longer duration storage technologies and how they support the energy transition.

As CleanCo continues to expand its Swanbank Clean Energy Hub, the NAS Battery will complement the Swanbank Big Battery (lithium-ion phosphate) which is currently under construction. As part of CleanCo’s diverse portfolio, these technologies will provide adaptable energy storage capacity, ensuring a reliable energy supply even when renewable sources are unavailable.

Quotes attributable to CleanCo CEO, Tom Metcalfe: 

“The NAS Battery represents an exciting step forward in CleanCo’s mission to lead Queensland’s path to net-zero.

“The trial at Swanbank will allow us to explore the commercial and operational potential of long-duration energy storage, enabling us to meet the evolving needs of our customers with reliable, sustainable energy solutions.”

Quotes attributable to Allset Energy Managing Director, Thomas Buschkuehl:

“The BASF NAS® Battery is a globally mature, long duration energy storage technology capable of supporting 24/7 carbon neutral operations. Applying this technology, Allset Energy has developed an Australian Standards-compliant, integrated solution for the local market.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with CleanCo and QUT to implement this in Australia’s largest sodium sulphur energy storage solution. Projects such as this create a vital link to Australia’s successful energy transition.”

Quotes attributable to QUT’s Director of Energy Storage Research Group, Associate Professor, Joshua Watts:

“We are genuinely excited to be supporting Australia’s first multi-container NAS® BESS deployment. This project represents a big leap forward for Australia in adopting the new technologies required to provide stable and secure power to the nation”.