Global energy firm Naturgy has committed to investing more than AU$500 million to build its largest-ever renewable energy asset in Australia, signalling a major expansion of its clean energy footprint in Queensland.
Delivered through its international generation subsidiary, Global Power Generation (GPG), the massive Fraser Coast Hybrid Project has entered the construction phase.
Located 50 kilometres south-west of Maryborough on Queensland’s Fraser Coast, the facility will pair 330 megawatt (MW) of solar generation capacity with a 180 MW battery energy storage system. Once operational in 2028, it will stand as one of the largest hybrid solar-battery developments in the country.
The project’s financial viability is secured by a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA) signed with an unnamed leading global corporation.
This long-term supply deal guarantees a steady revenue stream and visibility for the plant while directly supporting the corporate buyer’s decarbonisation targets.
Integrating large-scale battery storage alongside photovoltaic generation is a key move for Naturgy.
By storing excess solar power and releasing it during peak demand, the hybrid system provides the electricity grid with crucial stability, directly targeting the price volatility and transmission constraints that often impact the Australian market.
Beyond its energy contributions, the development promises a substantial economic windfall for regional Queensland. The project is expected to create up to 400 jobs at the peak of construction, bolstering local businesses and supply chains.
Naturgy has also committed more than AU$700,000 during the construction phase to local community benefit-sharing programs, which will include dedicated support for the region’s First Nations groups.
This funding will continue via ongoing programs once the facility begins commercial operations.
The Fraser Coast project expands Naturgy’s robust Australian portfolio, which currently boasts 1.3 GW of operational wind, solar, and battery storage assets across Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT, and Queensland.
