Samsung C&T Cleared for QLD 300-MW Solar-Storage

• Green light for Samsung C&T’s 300‑MW Dunmore solar farm in Queensland, with co‑located battery boosting grid stability—propelling Australia’s clean energy build and moving into design, connection, and financing.

Australia’s federal government has granted environmental approval for Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia’s 300‑MW Dunmore solar farm in Queensland, clearing a key permitting hurdle for the recently unveiled project. The approval allows the proponent to progress the utility‑scale solar development toward delivery.

The project, described as a solar‑plus‑storage park, is expected to include a co‑located battery to bolster grid stability and firm renewable output. The decision supports Queensland’s push to expand clean energy capacity and advances national decarbonization goals. Samsung C&T can now move to detailed design, grid‑connection work and financing ahead of construction, subject to remaining state and local approvals.

What are the next steps and grid impacts for the Dunmore solar-plus-storage project?

Immediate next steps
- Lock in final plant layout, battery power/energy ratio, and auxiliary systems
- Progress connection negotiations with Powerlink and AEMO: GPS agreement, PSCAD/HV studies, protection/harmonics, and system strength assessments
- Select EPC/O&M partners; secure key equipment (modules, inverters, transformers, BESS containers) amid long lead times
- Close financing on the back of a revenue stack (PPA plus merchant/FCAS/FFR); finalize hedging and LGC strategy
- Complete remaining state/local permits, land access, cultural heritage, biodiversity offsets, traffic and construction environmental plans
Pre‑construction and build
- Establish grid‑connection works (substation, high‑voltage switchyard, export cable, potential network augmentations)
- Mobilize civil works, tracker foundations, and BESS pads; stage procurement to match energization milestones
- Commission in stages: back‑feed, hold‑point testing, R2 and model validation, performance compliance, then full dispatch enablement
Grid impacts and integration
- Adds a large block of daytime solar with dispatchable battery output to shift energy into evening peaks and shoulder periods
- Co‑located BESS can reduce PV curtailment, firm output, and provide contingency/regulation FCAS and very fast FCAS, voltage/VAR support, and fast active‑power response
- Potential congestion on Queensland 132/275 kV corridors; project MLF will be sensitive to concurrent solar output and network loading—battery charging during low/negative prices can ease congestion
- System strength requirements may necessitate grid‑forming inverter capability, tuned controls, or external remediation; settings will be validated through GPS testing
- Likely to improve local reliability by providing dynamic voltage support and fast frequency response; may reduce net minimum‑demand stress by absorbing midday surplus and re‑dispatching later
- Curtailment risk remains under certain constraint sets; operational strategies (battery pre‑charge, export caps, coordinated bidding) will be used to manage constraints
- Supports Queensland renewable targets by delivering firmed clean energy and additional ancillary services capacity