Cooroy BESS

The proposed Cooroy BESS will be located on Cooroy Mountain Road, Cooroy, Queensland. Enervest acknowledge the Kabi Kabi people as the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of the land.

The BESS is sized at 100MW / 400MWh.

The site was selected following in-depth assessment and evaluation of a range of factors to ensure the site meets technical, environmental, and community needs effectively.

The proposed development will occupy a relatively compact footprint and will be set back from the site boundary on Cooroy Mountain Road, minimising visual impacts to surrounding areas and the local community. The site boarders an existing substation which enables the BESS to be connected to the Queensland electricity grid with minimal environmental disturbance.

Enervest are of the view that this site has great potential when assessing these considerations.

A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is a utility scale Battery that stores electrical energy (i.e from excess wind/solar or traditional power sources) for use at a later time. It helps balance supply and demand on the power grid by distributing the stored energy when it’s needed most, most commonly this is during the evening peak demand period. This improves grid stability and reliability by providing a flexible and responsive energy resource.

As coal plants close, the grid needs fast dispatchable energy to help balance generation and load. BESS is one of the cheapest and most reliable ways to do this.

A BESS system comprises of BESS containers and also other components like inverters for converting energy and switchgear & substations for distributing the power to the network. There will also be ancillary equipment constructed to support the project such as control systems for managing storage and distribution, and fire safety features to ensure efficient and reliable operation.

Enervest is an Australian-owned and operated company specialising in energy storage projects. Enervest was founded in 2008 and provides engineering and operational services for Australia’s decarbonisation journey. Enervest has a national presence, working alongside local communities and industry partners to develop projects that provide an overall positive impact on both the environment and the community.

A BESS typically contains groups of battery modules housed in containers or enclosures. These modules are connected to power conversion systems (inverters) and control equipment, ensuring efficient energy storage and management. BESS facilities are modular and can be configured based on specific site and capacity requirements. During the project planning phase, considerations will be made for visual impact mitigation, including the potential use of screening methods such as landscaping or artificial barrier to blend the facility with its surroundings and reduce its visual footprint (if required).

Since batteries have a much smaller footprint than transmission lines and large scale solar and wind farms screening is easier.

Typically, the BESS units are housed in shipping containers that are approximately 3-3.5m high. The switchgear buildings and the main transformers are around 6m and 7m high respectively.

A Development Application (DA) is a formal request to the local planning authority to undertake development in the local area. DAs go through a standard assessment process that includes input from relevant agencies, the surrounding community, and considers the potential impacts that might arise such as traffic, environment, community and amenity impacts.

Enervest has met with key stakeholders and provided opportunities for community feedback and are now preparing to lodge a DA in mid 2025. We will continue to engage as we progress the application and welcome any further feedback.

Once the DA is lodged, a formal public notification period will commence with key stakeholders and the local community.

Enervest are encouraging the local community to get involved in the Project through the planning process and are committed to engaging with the community as the project progresses.

Please contact Enervest via cooroy@enervest.com.au or use the ‘Get in Touch’ form below to register for project updates. Further information on how you can make a formal submission will be made available once our application is in the public notification period.

Alternatively, call us on (07) 2102 4251.

The DA is accompanied by a range of additional supporting materials and technical assessments including:

• Biodiversity
• Cultural heritage
• Noise
• Traffic impact assessment
• Stormwater management and flood risk
• Waste management
• Community and stakeholder engagement

The Cooroy BESS will benefit the local community by enhancing grid stability, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and supporting renewable energy integration, which can lead to lower electricity costs, improved energy reliability, and reduced environmental impact, fostering a cleaner and more resilient energy infrastructure.

As well as the above, employment opportunities will be available with a range of skills required such as civil construction, landscaping, labour hire, surveying, quarries, steel fabricators, general contractors, lighting and electrical contractors, crane operators, security contractors, hydrological consulting, traffic management, geotechnical contractors, construction site / HSE equipment installers, and more.

We will be developing a Community Benefits Program in consultation with local Council and the community over the coming months.

We invite you to get involved and share your ideas on how the Project can contribute to benefits for your community. Please contact Enervest via cooroy@enervest.com.au or use the ‘Get in Touch’ form below.

Enervest has started early engagement with the Kabi Kabi People with a site walk in early 2024 completed to identify areas of cultural significance.

Enervest always seeks to protect and conserve Aboriginal cultural heritage when delivering projects. The Project teams engage with the Traditional Owners early, planning to work together to deliver projects with mutual benefits.

Please contact Enervest via cooroy@enervest.com.au to register your interest or use the ‘Business or Organisation’ form below.

Please contact the cooroy@enervest.com.au email address for specific queries or to subscribe to project updates, use the ‘Get in Touch’ form below.