Zen Energy’s Solar and Battery Project Approved for Eight Hours of Storage

Federal Approval Granted for New Solar and Battery Project Near Gympie

The federal government has swiftly approved plans for a 100 megawatt (MW) solar farm and a 200 MW battery storage facility near Gympie, Queensland, just weeks after the project was submitted for assessment. The Environment Assessments Queensland Branch announced on Monday that the Hookey Creek project, developed by Zen Energy, has been classified as “not a controlled action.”

Located approximately 23 km north-west of Gympie and 7 km south-east of Woolooga, the Hookey Creek project aims to utilise grazing land for its solar and battery energy storage (BESS) operations. The project entered the federal environmental assessment queue in June, seeking approval to proceed.

Partnership with Taiwanese Firm

This initiative is part of a collaboration with Taiwanese equity partner HD Renewable Energy Co (HDRE), which was revealed in March. The partnership aims to co-develop around 695 MW of large-scale battery storage and 100 MW of solar energy across three Australian states.

HDRE, a company listed in Taiwan with a valuation exceeding $1.1 billion, committed to investing $43 million for a 9.7 per cent stake in Zen Energy last November. This investment will facilitate the co-development and management of a 1.4 gigawatt (GW) solar and storage pipeline through a joint venture named Zebre.

Significant Investment and Future Plans

The March agreement, supported by an investment of $A14 million from HDRE, was aimed at acquiring development rights for four greenfield battery and hybrid solar projects across New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, totalling around 795 MW with potential for further expansion.

With this investment, HDRE has secured a 70 per cent stake in the projects, while Zen Energy retains 30 per cent within the Zebre framework. A representative from Zebre expressed satisfaction with the federal government’s prompt decision, highlighting the careful site selection and design considerations for Hookey Creek.

“Good development avoids damage, so we are pleased that the federal environment department’s decision reinforces this for our Hookey Creek project,” the spokesperson stated. “Storage is at the heart of our strategy that we have communicated to the market.”

Next Steps for Hookey Creek

Moving forward, the Hookey Creek project will navigate the state planning process over the next year, alongside efforts to secure grid connection and council development approvals. Construction is anticipated to commence in mid-2027, with completion expected by mid-2029.

In related news, the largest project within Zen Energy’s Zebre joint venture recently received approval for its electricity grid connection in South Australia. The Solar River project, which includes a 256 MW solar farm and a 2.5-hour battery (650 MWh) near Bundey in north-east South Australia, is set to be the flagship investment of the joint venture, offering between 2.5 to 8 hours of storage capacity.

“The momentum on Hookey Creek follows closely behind the Templers battery, which is nearing full operational status, and the flagship Solar River project,” the spokesperson added. “In total, Zebre is poised to deliver an additional gigawatt of storage capacity to meet Australia’s energy needs.”