The Goulburn River project and the Woolooga BESS project are set to reshape Australia's energy landscape. These large-scale initiatives bring together solar power and energy storage, offering significant benefits to the nation's energy mix and future.

Unleashing the Potential of Renewable Energy in Australia

The Goulburn River Project

The Goulburn River project recently achieved a major milestone by receiving development consent from the Australian government. This 793-hectare site, located around 28km southwest of Merriwa and 273km northwest of Sydney, is set to cost approximately AU$880 million (US$596 million) to be fully constructed. The project plans envision an impressive arrangement of approximately one million bifacial solar PV modules in an east-west single-axis tracking system, with a height of around three metres. It is designed to have an operational lifespan of about 40 years, making it a long-term investment in renewable energy. In late 2023, Lightsource bp was awarded a Long-Term Energy Service Agreement (LTESA) through a competitive tender process with the New South Wales government. This agreement includes the provision of long-duration energy storage (LDES) services. Additionally, a 49MW/392MWh 8-hour duration BESS will be installed at a later stage to enable hybridisation. The project is expected to become operational by the end of 2026, marking a significant step forward in Australia's renewable energy journey.The Woolooga BESS, located near Gympie, Queensland, is co-located with the 214MW Woolooga solar PV power plant. It will consist of 128 battery units capable of storing up to 640MWh of energy and has an export capacity of 222MW. This system will provide flexible power and grid stabilisation services to the National Electricity Market (NEM), supporting the greater uptake of renewable energy generation in the electricity mix while enhancing energy reliability. Similar to the Goulburn project, the Woolooga BESS is expected to be operational by mid-2026.Commenting on the commencement of construction of these two projects, Lightsource bp’s chief operating officer for APAC, Adam Pegg, highlighted the opportunity for Australia to transition away from fossil fuels and benefit from a potential booming electricity export market. He said, "Australia is perfectly positioned to deliver on its energy transition, with abundant renewable resources that not only meet domestic needs but also offer significant potential for energy exports. By embracing firmed renewables, we can build a modern energy grid that is cleaner, more resilient, and capable of powering the nation’s growth, driving both economic progress and sustainable development in a rapidly changing world."It is worth noting that oil and gas major bp recently secured the remaining 50.03% interest in the developer in October while also announcing a hunt for a strategic partner. The oil and gas major first revealed plans to acquire full ownership of Lightsource bp in November 2023, stating that the two parties believed it was the "right time" to further scale-up the solar developer. These developments signify the growing importance of renewable energy in Australia and the potential for significant growth in the sector.