The $150 million Chinchilla battery is now fully operational at CS Energy’s Kogan Creek power plant site on the Western Downs.

The installation has a discharge capacity of 100 megawatts and a storage capacity of 200 megawatt hours – enough to power 33,000 homes in the evening peak for two hours before needing to recharge.

CS Energy worked with Tesla and Downer to deliver the Chinchilla battery, which is the first operational project in the Kogan Clean Energy Hub.

The project has undergone a comprehensive commissioning program to test the battery under a range of operating conditions, ensuring it operates safely and reliably.

“Getting the Chinchilla battery ready for commercial operation has taken a large effort from many people and teams across our entire business, from the team at site who will operate and maintain the asset to our traders in Brisbane who will dispatch its output into the grid,” CS Energy chief executive officer Darren Busine said.

“This project, along with our other projects planned for the Kogan Clean Energy Hub, shows that CS Energy is here for the long term in the Western Downs community.”

The Chinchilla battery comprises 80 Tesla Megapack 2 systems. It uses lithium iron phosphate (also known as lithium ferro phosphate or LiFePO4) batteries.

CS Energy said construction contractor Downer spent more than $3 million on suppliers and subcontractors in the Chinchilla and Dalby region during the construction phase.