Egans Hill BESS - Qld

A proposed 900 MWh / 150 MW battery storage facility near Gracemere, helping to keep Queensland's electricity grid reliable and affordable.

About the Project

What is being proposed?

Silo Energy is proposing to build a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at 54077 Burnett Highway, Gracemere, approximately 7 km south of Rockhampton City and 5 km east of Gracemere township.

The facility will store electricity when grid demand is low and release it back to the network when demand is high, helping to stabilise power supply and keep costs more predictable for households and businesses across the region.

Key Project Facts

900 MWh storage capacity

150 MW power output

6-hour dispatch

246 battery units

3.6 ha site area

800m+ to nearest home

24/7 remote monitoring

How does a BESS work?

Think of it as a very large rechargeable battery. When there is excess electricity on the grid (for example, during a sunny day when solar is generating more power than people need), the BESS charges up. When demand rises, the facility discharges stored energy back to the grid. This helps avoid blackouts, reduces the need to run expensive gas peakers, and helps stabilise energy bills.

In the Rockhampton LGA, 16,790 households have rooftop solar, nearly half of all homes in the region. But at the start of 2026, only 496 had a home battery to store what they generate. That means most of those solar households are sending surplus energy to the grid in the middle of the day, when demand is low and that energy often cannot be used efficiently. In the evening, when solar drops off and people come home, demand surges. The Egans Hill BESS is designed to absorb that midday surplus and return it to the grid when it is needed, effectively acting as a shared storage resource for the whole community.

The Site

The Project is located at 54077 Burnett Highway, Gracemere (Lot 30 SP254344), bounded by the Burnett Highway and the Aurizon freight rail network.

Why this location?

The site was selected because it is well suited to this type of facility, with minimal impact on the surrounding community.

Located between two existing electricity substations (Egans Hill and Rocklands), enabling an efficient grid connection. Powerlink Queensland has confirmed the connection is viable.
Flat, cleared grassland with no significant vegetation, no bushfire prone areas, and no flood risk on the facility footprint.
Not classified as Class A or B Agricultural Land.
Over 800 metres from the nearest residential dwelling.
Adjacent to the Burnett Highway, an existing freight railway line, and a high voltage transmission corridor consistent with the industrial infrastructure corridor in the area.
No heritage sites or significant ecological values on the subject site

The nearest sensitive receptors are residential properties to the north and east. Independent noise and visual impact assessments have been completed for all identified receptors.

The Approval Process

Project history

The Egans Hill BESS project was initially assessed as a development application by Rockhampton Regional Council. During that process, the application was placed on public notification and submissions were received from the community, Council, and other stakeholders. That feedback informed a number of design refinements, which are detailed below.

In December 2025, the Queensland Government introduced State Code 27: Battery storage facility development, which transferred assessment responsibility for battery storage projects of this scale from local government to the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA). The project is now being assessed under this new state pathway. The technical work and community engagement completed under the previous process informs the current assessment.

Current assessment process

Step 1: Social Impact Assessment (underway)

A Social Impact Assessment is now underway. This is a formal process required under Part 5B of the Planning Regulation 2017, examining how the project may affect the local community, both positively and negatively, and identifying management measures. Community input is an important part of this process.

The SIA examines the potential social impacts of the project, both positive and negative, on the local community and identifies measures to manage those impacts. It covers five key areas:

• Community and stakeholder engagement

• Workforce management

• Housing and accommodation

• Local business and industry procurement

• Health and community wellbeing

Community knowledge, values, and concerns directly shape the assessment findings and the management measures that result. Engagement with local residents and community members is a formal requirement of the process.

How can I get involved?

Complete the project survey: you can complete the online survey at the following link
Provide written feedback: You can provide feedback directly to the project team at any time: [insert project email address]

All feedback received during the SIA process is documented and considered. The SIA report will explain how community input was received, how it was analysed, and how it has informed the assessment and management measures. Feedback will also inform the terms of the Community Benefit Agreement.

Step 2: Community Benefit Agreement (upcoming)

Before the development application is finalised, Silo Energy will negotiate a Community Benefit Agreement with Rockhampton Regional Council. This agreement will identify the specific, legally binding commitments Silo Energy will make to the Rockhampton region.

Community Benefits Agreements can include:

Local content commitments
Financial contributions to community infrastructure or services
Community investment programs
Environmental or social programs

The specific commitments for the Egans Hill project will be developed in consultation with Rockhampton Regional Council. The Social Impact Assessment currently underway will directly inform what those commitments should address.

Step 3: Development approval decision

SARA will make a decision on the development application, potentially subject to conditions. All applications go through a statutory public notification period, and community members can provide feedback through the SARA notifications portal: https://www.planning.qld.gov.au/planning-framework/state-assessment-and-referral-agency/sara-submissions-portal

How Community and Stakeholder Feedback Has Shaped the Project

During the public notification period, the community raised concerns across several areas. Each concern was taken seriously and where relevant has been refined through independent assessment and advice.

Noise

An independent Noise Impact Assessment was completed. Acoustic modelling confirmed that noise from the facility will comply with Queensland's Environmental Protection (Noise) Policy requirements at all identified sensitive receptors, across day, evening, and night periods. No acoustic attenuation infrastructure is required due to the separation distance from residential properties.

Visual Amenity

A Visual Impact Assessment was completed. The facility is assessed as having low visual impact due to its location between two existing substations and high-voltage transmission lines, its setback from residential properties, and its distance from public viewpoints. Landscaping will provide a substantive visual buffer from the Burnett Highway following construction.

Safety & Emergency Management

A comprehensive Emergency Management Plan was developed in consultation with the Queensland Fire Department (QFD). The plan details procedures for all identified hazard scenarios. See Battery Safety for detailed information on the specific technology being used.

Traffic

A Traffic Impact Assessment was completed. R Pierce Road will be upgraded (with the first 20 metres sealed) to manage any dust or material being dragged onto the Burnett Highway. Construction traffic management measures are included in the assessment.

Environment & Stormwater

The site is designed with grass swales surrounding the facility that collect and transport stormwater to a vegetated detention basin, mitigating any increase in runoff.

The Project must adhere to the strict performance outcomes outlined in the State Code 27: Battery storage facility development.

Battery Safety

What battery technology is being used?

The facility will use Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries. LFP is the safest battery chemistry available for utility-scale storage, and is now the industry standard for new BESS facilities in Australia and internationally.

Why LFP is safer than other battery types

Most public concern about battery fires is associated with older Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt (Li-NMC) battery chemistry. LFP is fundamentally different.

Thermal stability

In standard lithium-ion batteries, if something goes wrong, temperatures can rise at 200–400°C per minute, which can cause fire and spread to adjacent units.
In LFP batteries, the maximum thermal rise is 1.5°C per minute, a gradual increase that does not result in fire and does not propagate to adjacent batteries.
This difference is due to LFP's cathode chemistry: it does not release oxygen, preventing the rapid oxidation reactions that cause fires in other battery types.

Resilience to damage

Independent puncture testing (the "nail test") has demonstrated that when LFP cells are physically damaged (which would cause a short circuit and fire in other chemistries), LFP batteries do not ignite.

Containment if a fire does occur

In the unlikely event of ignition by an external source, LFP combustion releases carbon dioxide, which helps reduce the combustion rate.
Each battery container is enclosed in stainless steel and equipped with integrated smoke/thermal sensors, combustible gas detectors, pressure relief systems, and aerosol suppression. Stainless steel containers have been shown to remain structurally intact at temperatures over 900°C.

Multiple layers of protection on-site

24/7 remote monitoring with automatic alarms and shutdown systems
Continuous temperature and voltage monitoring across all units
Fire detection and suppression systems in every battery container
Emergency ventilation systems
Dedicated on-site fire water supply
Permanent Asset Protection Zone (APZ) established around all battery infrastructure
Managed low-fuel area surrounding the facility
Site layout designed to allow emergency vehicle access at all times
Emergency Management Plan developed in consultation with QFD

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)? A BESS stores electrical energy and releases it back to the grid when needed. It works like a large rechargeable battery. Unlike a power station, it does not generate electricity. It stores energy generated elsewhere (including from renewables) and dispatches it at times of high demand. In the Rockhampton LGA, 16,790 households have rooftop solar but only 496 had a home battery at the start of 2026. The Egans Hill BESS captures that midday surplus from thousands of rooftops and dispatches it during the evening peak, when it is most needed and most valuable.

Will it affect property values? There is no evidence that well-sited BESS facilities cause adverse impacts on surrounding property values. The facility is located adjacent to an existing gas and electricity infrastructure corridor between two substations, adjacent to a highway and freight railway.

Will the project create local jobs? Yes. Construction will require a local and regional workforce for civil, electrical, and mechanical trades. The operational phase is predominantly remote monitored, with periodic on-site maintenance. The Community Benefit Agreement may include commitments to local employment and procurement.

What is the project timeline? The Social Impact Assessment and Community Benefit Agreement processes are currently underway. Subject to development approval, construction is anticipated to follow in mid-2027.

How loud will it be? An independent Noise Impact Assessment modelled noise from all operational equipment at all identified sensitive receptors. The results show the facility will comply with Queensland's Environmental Protection (Noise) Policy requirements at every receptor, including at night. Predicted noise levels are well below the applicable criteria at all residential locations.

I don't live nearby. Can I still provide feedback? Yes. The SIA engagement is primarily focused on residents and landholders closest to the site, but broader community members with a genuine interest in the project are welcome to provide feedback.

What will it look like? The facility consists of battery containers, power conversion equipment, a small operations and maintenance building, and a workshop. Buildings are low-rise (maximum 6.4 metres for the tallest structure on-site, excluding the grid connection pole). The Visual Impact Assessment assessed the facility as having low visual impact, and landscaping measures are required to further reduce contrast with the surrounding environment. The height and scale of the project are similar to the existing electrical substations located either side of the project site.

How do I access the technical reports? The technical assessment reports that have been prepared for the project will be available during the public notification period. Summary outcomes are provided in the project fact sheets.

Is it safe? Yes. The facility uses Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry, which is the safest battery technology available for utility-scale storage. It operates with 24/7 remote monitoring, multiple automated safety systems, and a detailed Emergency Management Plan developed in consultation with the Queensland Fire Department.

Will there be an increase in traffic? Construction will involve some increase in heavy vehicle movements during the construction phase. These are intermittent and temporary. R Pierce Road will be upgraded as part of the project. The facility's operational phase involves only occasional maintenance vehicle visits. A Traffic Impact Assessment has confirmed no adverse impact on the Burnett Highway.

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