CS Energy has signed an agreement with global energy leader GE Vernova for the supply of key equipment for Queensland’s first hydrogen-ready, natural gas power station.
The 400 megawatt Brigalow Peaking Power Plant will be capable of operating on 35 per cent renewable hydrogen initially, with a pathway to 100 per cent hydrogen over time.
The open-cycle power station will have fast-start capability and operate in high demand periods to support variable solar and wind energy, and underpin energy security for Queenslanders.
The signing marks the first major equipment order for the project and follows extensive studies to inform its design. The power station is scheduled to be operational in 2026, subject to final approvals.
The project will be located at CS Energy’s Kogan Clean Energy Hub, next to Kogan Creek Power Station in the Western Downs. The region is critical to Queensland’s energy supply system and offers excellent connections into the existing power grid.
Image: Senior global representatives of GE Vernova, including Gas Power President and CEO Eric Gray (left) and GM Aeroderivatives Aman Joshi (standing) at a signing ceremony this week with Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni (centre) and CS Energy CEO Darren Busine.
Image: From left - Aman Joshi (GM Aeroderivatives GE Vernova), Eric Gray (GE Vernova Gas Power President and CEO), Mick de Brenni (Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen), Darren Busine (CS Energy CEO) and Emma Roberts (EGM Future Energy).
CS Energy CEO Darren Busine said the signing ceremony marked a significant step in the continued diversification of CS Energy's portfolio.
“CS Energy is committed to securing a balanced mix of energy sources that can meet our customers’ decarbonisation requirements and support the delivery of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan," Mr Busine said.
“The open-cycle design of the Brigalow Peaking Power Plant provides the ability for multiple start/stop cycles per day and the ability to ramp up to full power output within five minutes.
“This project is an example of how we are creating clean energy hubs at our power stations to deliver the energy mix needed to reliably transition the grid to renewable energy while also providing opportunities for our workforce to reskill.”
GE Vernova Gas Power President and CEO Eric Gray said: “We are honored to be considered to provide our highly efficient and flexible gas turbine technology for this project to supply homes and businesses in Queensland with affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity.”
The Brigalow Peaking Power Plant is a planned greenfield development on land owned by CS Energy across from the existing Kogan Creek Power Station on Banana Bridge Road.
The plant will consist of 12 GE aeroderivative turbines (LM2500XPRESS) with a capacity of 33 MW per unit.
Renewable hydrogen will initially be sourced from the neighbouring Kogan Renewable Hydrogen Demonstration Plant. Production of renewable hydrogen is expected to be scaled up through the development of a commercial scale hydrogen production facility as part of the Kogan Clean Energy Hub.
The power station will connect into the Banana Bridge substation, requiring only a few hundred metres of new transmission line on CS Energy-owned land.
Learn more about the Brigalow Peaking Power Plant.