Western Downs Green Power Hub

{{short description|Solar power station in Queensland, Australia}}

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}

{{Infobox power station

| name = Western Downs Green Power Hub

| image =

| image_caption =

| image_alt =

| coordinates ={{Coord|-26.955|150.677|region:AU-QLD_type:landmark|display=inline, title}}

| country = Australia

| location = 22km southeast of Chinchilla, Queensland

| status = Operational

| construction_began = June 2020

| commissioned =

| decommissioned =

| cost = $600 million

| owner = Neoen

| operator =

| solar_type = PV

| solar_collectors = 1,000,000

| solar_collectors_area =

| ps_site_area = {{convert|1500|ha}}

| solar_site_resource =

| ps_units_manu_model =

| ps_electrical_capacity = 400

| ps_electrical_cap_fac =

| ps_storage_capacity =

| ps_annual_generation =

| website = https://westerndownsgreenpowerhub.com.au/

}}

The Western Downs Green Power Hub is a large solar farm at the Kogan Creek Power Station near Chinchilla in Queensland, Australia. The photovoltaic solar power station uses one million solar panels to generate 400 megawatts of power. It utilizes 72-cell bi-facial solar modules on single-axis trackers; a system that tracks the sun throughout the day.{{cite web |url=https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/projects/western-downs-green-power-hub/ |title=Western Downs Green Power Hub |website=NS Energy |access-date=8 May 2023 }} It was the largest solar farm in Australia for some time.

The 1,500 hectare solar farm is owned and operated by Neoen. The state government-owned renewable energy operator CleanCo Queensland has signed an agreement to purchase 80% of the project's capacity.{{cite news |last=Carroll |first=David |date=6 April 2023 |title=Final panel installed as Australia’s largest solar farm nears full capacity |url=https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2023/04/06/final-panel-installed-as-australias-largest-solar-farm-nears-full-capacity/ |work=pv magazine |access-date=8 May 2023}}

Construction began in June 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.power-technology.com/projects/western-downs-green-power-hub-queensland/ |title=Western Downs Green Power Hub, Queensland |website=Power Technology |publisher=Verdict Media |access-date=15 May 2023 }} The solar farm was built by Sterling & Wilson. Exports to the grid had begun by August 2022.{{cite news |last=Carroll |first=David |date=22 August 2022 |title=Australia’s largest solar farm begins exporting to grid |url=https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2022/08/22/australias-largest-solar-farm-begins-exporting-to-grid/ |work=pv magazine |access-date=15 May 2023}} The final solar panel was installed on 1 May 2023. The event was attended by state premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.{{cite web |url=https://westerndownsgreenpowerhub.com.au/2023/05/01/final-solar-panel-installed/ |title=Final solar panel installed |date=1 May 2023 |website=Western Downs Green Power Hub |access-date=8 May 2023 }}

The hub will also contain a 200MW/400MWh big battery. Construction of the battery had begun by January 2023.{{cite web |url=https://westerndownsgreenpowerhub.com.au/2023/01/09/battery-update-2023/ |title=Battery Update: 2023 |date=9 January 2023 |website=Western Downs Green Power Hub |access-date=8 May 2023 }} The PV station and battery, along with two other batteries, are connected to the national grid via the Western Downs substation and a new 275 kilovolt line constructed by Powerlink Queensland.{{cite news |last=R. |first=Luwela |date=5 April 2023 |title=Construction of the 400MW Western Downs Green Power Hub completed |url=https://www.australianresources.com.au/construction-of-the-400mw-western-downs-green-power-hub-completed/ |work=Australian Resources |publisher=Digital Media News |access-date=8 May 2023}} Battery containers for a 270MW/540MWh section are made in Shanghai.{{cite web |title=First China-made Tesla Megapack batteries on their way to big Australian storage project |url=https://reneweconomy.com.au/first-china-made-tesla-megapack-batteries-on-their-way-to-big-australian-storage-project/ |website=RenewEconomy |language=en-AU |date=27 March 2025}}