ABSTRACT

Transitioning to renewable energy is a global target, but the intermittent nature of renewables requires energy storage for a successful transition. Australia currently has a significant shortfall in longer term energy storage that can be efficiently deployed. This paper introduces a probable solution to that challenge: repurposing a depleted gas field in Rolleston, Central Queensland, into a compressed air energy storage (CAES) facility. Depleted gas reservoirs with proven seal, porosity and permeability, offer potential to be repurposed for CAES. The application of CAES using geological media was explored in Germany in 1978 and the USA in 1991. However, large-scale commercial deployment has been occurring only recently in China, where underground salt caverns are utilised for storage. Conceptual studies indicate a gas reservoir at Rolleston gas field could be transformed into a CAES plant of 600 megawatts (MW) and 12-hour duration. By leveraging its geological attributes, the reservoir has potential to significantly enhance the sustainability and reliability of Queensland’s power supply. This paper provides an overview of the proposed CAES project including its scope, progress to date and next steps.