APA Approves Sybella Creek Solar-Storage for Queensland Mine

• APA Group greenlights Sybella Creek: a 72-MW solar farm plus 52-MW/104-MWh batteries for Queensland mines—AUD 259M investment, firmed with gas, powering Ernest Henry to 2046.

APA Group has reached a final investment decision on a solar-and-storage project to supply electricity to Queensland mining operations. The company will invest AUD 259 million (about USD 184 million) to build, own and operate the Sybella Creek energy complex near Mount Isa.

The 72-MW solar farm will be paired with a 52-MW/104-MWh battery energy storage system. The development follows an energy supply agreement with Ernest Henry Mining, a unit of Evolution Mining, running to the mid-2046, providing power for its copper, gold and silver operations. APA will integrate Sybella Creek with its Diamantina gas-fired facility to provide firming and additional energy, aiming to deliver lower emissions, improved reliability and lower costs. Construction is expected to start late 2026, with completion by mid-2028, funded from balance-sheet capacity as part of APA’s AUD 3.5-billion organic growth pipeline.

What does APA’s final decision mean for Sybella Creek solar-plus-storage reliability and emissions?

• Reliability impact: By pairing the 72-MW solar output with a 52-MW / 104-MWh battery, Sybella Creek can cover shortfalls during periods of low sunlight (e.g., evening ramp-downs and cloudy intervals), reducing the frequency and duration of supply interruptions to mining loads that require steady electricity.
• Firming and grid support: APA’s plan to integrate the solar-plus-storage complex with its Diamantina gas-fired facility is designed to “firm” renewable generation—using dispatchable gas generation when needed—so overall delivery to Ernest Henry Mining remains dependable through seasonal and weather-driven variability.
• System resilience during contingencies: Battery operation can help manage transient needs (such as brief power gaps or sudden demand changes), while the combination with dispatchable generation provides a backstop, improving resilience compared with solar-only supply.
• Emissions reduction potential: Using a large solar component and batteries to shift energy toward times when renewables are available lowers how often fossil generation must meet demand, which typically translates into reduced greenhouse gas emissions per delivered megawatt-hour for the mining operations under the supply agreement.
• Lower operational emissions versus gas-only: Because the project adds renewable capacity and uses storage to extend usable solar generation beyond daylight hours, it can reduce the share of energy sourced from gas over the contract term, leading to sustained emissions intensity improvements rather than one-time reductions.
• Reduced emissions during peak demand windows: Storage helps supply electricity during periods when solar output would otherwise drop, which can replace some higher-emitting generation that would be required to meet demand peaks—particularly in late-day transitions.
• More efficient use of existing generation: Coordinating Sybella Creek with the Diamantina facility can improve the overall dispatch strategy—maximizing when gas is used and when it can be displaced—supporting lower total emissions while maintaining reliability.
• Long-term implications for the contract: The “final investment decision” means APA is committed to delivering the planned capacity mix by the expected mid-2028 timeline, giving the customer greater certainty that reliability targets and emissions-reduction expectations built into the energy supply agreement can be achieved over the years covered through the mid-2040s.
• Monitoring and measurement expectations: With construction and ownership secured, the project’s performance (battery cycling, renewable availability, and how often firming generation is dispatched) becomes measurable and trackable, enabling clearer verification of both reliability improvements and emissions outcomes as operations begin.