Akaysha Energy has completed its Ulinda Park battery energy storage systems (BESS), with the Queensland battery now operational and trading in the National Electricity Market.
The 155MW/298MWh battery connects at Powerlink’s Western Downs 275 kV Terminal Station near Hopeland/Chinchilla.
Ulinda Park leverages the Western Downs transmission hub, built for conventional generation, but now repurposed to firm local solar and wind and reduce curtailment.
Ulinda Park is underpinned by a 10-year battery revenue swap agreement with Re2, a climate risk transfer platform, which allows Akaysha to balance merchant exposure while preserving operational flexibility to optimise bidding across energy and Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) markets.
Nick Carter, CEO, Akaysha Energy, said: “With Ulinda Park up and running, and the CIS-backed expansion progressing, we’re turning the Western Downs into a major storage hub.
“That means a steadier grid for Queenslanders and new tools for retailers and big energy users to manage risk and keep energy costs under control.”
Ulinda Park, which can store enough energy to power 400,000 homes for one hour at peak demand, reduces peak-period volatility, leading to more affordable energy costs.
The BESS provides millisecond-fast response for frequency control and system balancing, improving security as more variable renewables connect.
Akaysha said the project created dozens of jobs during construction and supports ongoing skilled roles in operations and maintenance.
Looking ahead, Akaysha will expand Ulinda Park after it was awarded a Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) contract for the site, which will lift the site to 350 MW / ~1,078 MWh upon completion, further boosting firming capacity for Queensland’s network.