In brief
Genex Power Limited says its Bouldercombe Battery Project in Queensland is operational after two battery units damaged in a 2023 fire were replaced. The company says Tesla covered the costs related to the incident, limiting Genex’s financial impact. Following testing with Tesla, Powerlink and the Australian Energy Market Operator, the project began operating at its full stated capacity of 50MW/100MWh on December 12, 2023, using 40 Megapacks. Genex says the battery has contributed to cash flows since operations began and was important during a summer period of electricity market volatility. The company has completed construction milestone payments to Tesla, which it says reflected recovery of its full costs associated with the fire.
Key takeaways
- Genex says the Bouldercombe Battery Project is operational at 50MW/100MWh.
- Two battery units damaged in a 2023 fire were replaced.
- The company says Tesla covered costs associated with the fire incident.
- The project has been operating at full capacity using 40 Megapacks since December 12, 2023.
April 3, 2024 -- Australian renewable energy producer Genex Power Limited has announced the Bouldercombe Battery Project (BBP) is now operational following the replacement of two Tesla Megapack battery units damaged in a 2023 fire.
Genex CEO Craig Francis said the company saw limited financial impact as Tesla incurred the costs associated with the minor fire incident in September 2023.
“The plant has been operating well and making a positive contribution to cash flows since commencing operations and ramping up to full capacity in December 2023. This has been critical over the peak summer period, which has seen significant volatility driven by warm weather conditions in Queensland.
“I extend our gratitude to Tesla, Consolidated Power Projects, Powerlink and Amplitude Consultants for the proactive and diligent manner in which they have supported us to reach this important milestone,” Francis said.
An outage was required to facilitate the installation and a period of testing by Tesla before the final outstanding hold point tests were completed with Powerlink and the Australian Energy Market Operator on Dec. 12 2023.
Following this milestone and conclusion of ancillary documentation with Tesla, Genex has granted the final construction milestone and made the final milestone payments to Tesla, which reflected the recovery of Genex’s full costs associated with the fire event, to conclude the construction phase of the Project.
Since conclusion of testing on Dec. 12, the Project has been operating using 40 Megapacks at its full capacity of 50MW/100MWh.
The Bouldercombe Battery Project is located at critical part of the Queensland electricity grid with high network strength and Marginal Loss Factors.
Genex signed a Connection Agreement with Powerlink enabling BBP to connect into the adjacent 275kV/132kV Bouldercombe substation, via an exiting 132kV bay.
Genex Power Limited has a portfolio of more than $1 billion of renewable energy generation and storage projects across Australia, including the Kidston Clean Energy Hub, comprised of the operating 50 MW stage 1 Solar Project (KS1) and the 250 MW Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project (K2-Hydro) with potential for a further wind project.
Other projects include the 50 MW Jemalong Solar Project (JSP) in NSW, a committed portfolio of 400 MW and up to approximately 2.25 GW of renewable energy and storage projects in development pipeline.
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Questions around this news
What is the Bouldercombe Battery Project’s current operating status and capacity?
Genex said the project became operational after two battery units damaged in a 2023 fire were replaced. Following testing completed on December 12, 2023, it has been operating with 40 Megapacks at a stated capacity of 50MW/100MWh. The company also reported that the facility had ramped up to full capacity in December.
Who covered the costs associated with the Bouldercombe battery fire?
Genex said Tesla incurred the costs connected with the September 2023 fire and described the financial effect on Genex as limited. The company later made final milestone payments to Tesla, which it said reflected recovery of its full costs related to the fire and marked the end of the project’s construction phase.
How is the Bouldercombe battery connected to Queensland’s electricity grid?
Genex said it signed a Connection Agreement with Powerlink for the project to connect to the nearby Bouldercombe substation. The planned connection uses an existing 132kV bay at a substation described in the release as 275kV/132kV. The release also identifies the project’s location as part of the Queensland electricity grid.
How does a grid-scale battery store and deliver electricity?
A grid-scale battery stores electrical energy in battery cells and releases it later through equipment that converts the stored energy into electricity suitable for the grid. Operators can charge it when supply is available and discharge it when power is needed, helping shift energy across time and support the electricity system’s operation.
