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Central Queensland Power has proposed the $2 billion Wooderson solar and battery hybrid project in Gladstone, Queensland. This facility aims to establish a 450 MW solar farm coupled with an 8-hour battery storage capacity of up to 3,600 MWh, making it the largest of its kind in Australia.

The project also has the potential to include a wind facility of up to 816 MW, subject to regulatory approvals. Gladstone, which requires substantial renewable energy to replace the coal-fired power generator slated for closure in 2028, has seen significant interest from energy-intensive industries.

The project, covering 5,618 hectares, has begun the federal EPBC approval process, with construction anticipated to start in early 2028 and operations by early 2031. However, it must secure additional state and local approvals amidst a changing regulatory landscape in Queensland.