Queensland's first hydrogen ready power plant to use GE tech

CS Energy, a publicly owned energy company in Queensland, will use GE Vernova's peaking generation units at the state's first hydrogen-ready power station, the state government said on November 8. The Brigalow Peaking Power Plant will be capable of operating on 35% renewable hydrogen once it is operational.

The plant will consist of 12 GE aeroderivative turbines with a capacity of 33 MW per unit. Renewable hydrogen will initially be sourced from CS Energy’s Kogan renewable hydrogen demonstration plant. The planning and environmental approvals for the power station will be submitted in late 2023, the state government said.

The power station is part of the Kogan Clean Energy Hub, which is being developed by CS Energy in the Western Downs region of Queensland. The hub will also include a renewable hydrogen demonstration plant and a battery storage facility.

The Brigalow Peaking Power Plant will have a capacity of 400 MW and will be able to power more than 75,000 homes during peak demand periods. The power station will also have fast-start capability, taking just five minutes to go from cold to full output.

The Brigalow Peaking Power Plant is expected to be operational in 2026.