Octopus Investments Australia has acquired a 175-MW solar project with a battery storage component in Queensland, which will add to an existing wind farm to create the largest multi-technology renewable energy hub in the state.
The unit of UK-based Octopus Group said on Tuesday it will build the Ardandra photovoltaic (PV) in proximity to its 180-MW Dulacca wind farm, which went live in April. The new plant is expected to be installed by 2025 and will use the same connection line as the wind park located within the company’s Western Downs Energy Park.
The PV plant will be coupled with a 400-MWh battery storage facility.
The future complex will outpace what is currently Queensland’s largest hybrid renewable energy site – the Kennedy Energy Park, which consists of 43 MW of wind, 15 MW of solar and 2 MW/4 MWh of storage.
The new acquisition will further expand Octopus’ Aussie portfolio. It comes on the heels of the purchase of a 400-MW wind project in New South Wales from German Juwi AG in May.
