The Queensland Government owned Stanwell has acquired the Lockyer Energy Project from Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners as part of a staged process to boost additional capacity to the state’s electricity grid.
Stage one includes up to 120 megawatts of gas-fired generation and the potential for up to a further 850 megawatt of capacity in stage two.
In 2025-26, government-owned corporations will invest more than $5 billion across the energy supply chain.
The gas peaking project will provide additional fast-ramping, dispatchable energy for 27,000 homes and businesses during daily peak demand.
The project, located 75km west of Brisbane, is strategically situated in an energy distribution hub at the intersection of the Roma-to-Brisbane gas pipeline and a 110 kilovolt electricity network substation.
Stanwell is now working on project development work, including early procurement and landholder engagement.
CEO Michael O’Rourke says dispatchable energy was critical to ensure sufficient, reliable supply during periods of peak demand.
“Gas-fired plants, as well as other firming and storage projects like battery and pumped hydro complement our existing portfolio by providing fast-ramping, dispatchable energy on demand to the market and our customers,” O’Rourke says.
Stanwell is a Queensland electricity and energy solutions provider, providing almost 35% of the state’s energy needs.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Stanwell
