Where are the Projects located?

The Projects are north of Manton Quarry Road, within the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct (LEIP), at Woodstock, about 40km south of Townsville.

Why was the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct site chosen?

The LEIP site meets key criteria for successful and responsible development.

These include:

•Existing access to the electricity network – Powerlink Queensland’s high voltage transmission lines are located in the immediate area.

•Suitable land characteristics – the topography and size of the site suit the Supernode North and Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility.

•Low impact on biodiversity – the site was previously cleared for grazing and agricultural research activities meaning minimal impact on native vegetation. The layout of the Projects will retain riparian corridors and existing visual screening vegetation.

•Interface with surrounding properties – the site has a limited number of adjoining neighbours and all direct neighbours are LEIP tenants. Visual impacts to the surrounding road network can be mitigated.

•The LEIP is zoned for high-impact industry – the Queensland Government declared the LEIP a Prescribed Project in March 2023. A Prescribed Project is one which is of significance, particularly economically and socially, to Queensland or a region. When fully developed, the LEIP will become Northern Australia’s first environmentally sustainable industrial hub for advanced manufacturing, processing, technology and emerging industries (Townsville City Council (TCC), 2024). This makes the LEIP a prime location for the Supernode North and Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility.

• Suitable nearby industry - an operational solar farm is located nearby and other renewable energy projects are proposed within, or close to, the LEIP. The energy generated by these projects will be able to charge the Supernode North and supply energy to the Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility.

Who owns the land where the Supernode North and Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility will be built?

TCC is developing the LEIP, including installing key trunk infrastructure, to prepare the precinct for use by tenants. Solquartz has agreed to lease the land from TCC pending Project approvals and reaching the construction phase.

How big are the Project sites?

The total size of the site, including easements and land set aside to preserve remnant native trees, is 339.3ha. Supernode North and the Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility will cover about 336.6ha. The development area, which is comprised of three adjoining allotments within the LEIP, is split into two distinct northern and southern sections by the existing Bidwilli Road, which traverses east to west near the centre of the development area.

How will Woodstock and surrounding communities benefit from the Projects?

The Projects can deliver many short and long-term benefits for Woodstock, the surrounding townships and the Townsville Region.

• The Projects will boost the regional economy by employing local people and procuring goods and services from local businesses and contractors, where possible, during construction, operation and decommissioning.

•Employees operating the commissioned Supernode North and Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility will reside locally, wherever possible, with no plans for a fly-in, fly-out workforce. This will contribute to the economic growth of local and regional areas.

•Solquartz and PEP will collaborate with the community to establish a Community Partnership Program that provides ongoing benefits for local people. We welcome and encourage any suggestions from the community as we develop this program.

•The supply of stored renewable energy to the National Electricity Market (NEM) will assist in meeting the Townsville Region’s demand for increased electricity capacity.

What opportunities are available for local businesses and contractors, and how can they get involved?

Solquartz and PEP are committed to employing local people and engaging local businesses, contractors and service providers.

Work packages may include:

•tree planting for visual screening

•fencing supply and installation

•flatbed trailer hire/purchase

•commercial cleaning

•bus hire

•crane and lifting equipment hire and operations

•water carting

•concrete work and supply

•inverter platform supply and installation

•land management – slashing, weed spraying, pest control

•balance of plant – electrical, mechanical and piping contractors

•operation and maintenance buildings

•site security and systems

•catering

•waste management.

The Projects will establish a portal for local business and employment opportunities. More information, including a registration landing page, will be made available closer to the start of the tender period/s.

How long will construction take?

Construction of Supernode North will take about 9-12 months. Construction of the Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility will take about 24 months to complete. Solquartz and PEP are committed to minimising construction impacts wherever possible and will comply with the construction days and times TCC specifies In the approval conditions.

What is the lifespan of the Projects?

The expected lifespan of Supernode North is about 30 years. The expected lifespan of the Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility is 30+ years.

Will there be changes to my insurance because Supernode North and the Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility are near my property?

Battery storage projects are already in operation around Australia. There is no evidence to suggest an increase in insurance premiums for neighbours of these facilities. They are designed with strict safety measures, as will be the case for Supernode North and the Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility, and insurers typically assess risk based on actual hazards, which remain low for these projects. The site is within the LEIP, which is zoned as high-impact industrial land, and there are buffers around the LEIP to ensure appropriate separation and setbacks from neighbours.

We will work with peak bodies and the Insurance Council of Australia to ensure our project neighbours are not subject to increased insurance premiums or exclusions because of the adjacent development.

How can I ask questions or provide feedback?

Solquartz and PEP are committed to working with the local community to keep them informed and address their concerns.

The community can provide feedback at all stages of the Projects through our community forums and local information drop-in sessions.

You can also contact us by emailing info@solquartz.com.au or calling 1800 975 039.

What are the site plans and considerations?

The potential impacts and proposed ongoing management of environmental, planning and social aspects of the development will be assessed against current local, state and federal legislative requirements. The Projects’ infrastructure and layouts will consider modelling and community input, and detailed design will ensure compliance with all relevant standards, regulatory requirements, approval conditions and community expectations.

Technical assessments will be completed to understand potential impacts and recommended mitigation measures including:

•noise

•visual amenity

•traffic, road conditions and access

•water

•Cultural Heritage

•surface water, flood, erosion and sediment control

•ecology and biodiversity

•weed and pest management (biosecurity)

•fire emergency and bushfire response

•operation and maintenance

•decommissioning.

Management plans will be developed in consultation with relevant agencies and stakeholders to direct activities during construction and operation.

Once completed, the Projects’ assessment reports will become available on the TCC Development Applications website and on the Project websites.

Supernode North BESS

Why does Queensland need Supernode North?

Battery Energy Storage Systems, such as Supernode North, play a crucial role in supporting Queensland’s energy reliability and stability. They store excess energy from generation sources, or the grid, and release it back into the electricity network when it is needed. This helps reduce electricity waste, maintains continuation of power supply, particularly during periods of lower generation or high demand, and supplies back-up power during network disruptions.

The Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility is a significant power user, and co-locating it with Supernode North assures a smooth supply of electricity and maximum use of clean energy.

What is the capacity of the Supernode North Supernode North BESS?

The Supernode North nameplate capacity is up to 750 megawatts (MW), with up to 8 hours (up to 6000MWh) of energy storage.

What are the components of the Supernode North?

Supernode North components and systems include:

•Batteries – individual low-voltage, rechargeable battery cells that store energy. These are arranged in racks within a battery module, and modules are grouped together to form a battery unit.

•Battery containers – similar to shipping containers, these heavy-duty steel boxes each house several battery units. Containers are spaced about 3m apart and feature a range of in-built fire suppression and containment systems.

•Battery Management System – monitors and manages the batteries’ safety to prevent overcharging, over-discharging and overheating. It also balances the charge across battery cells to maintain optimal performance and longevity.

•Power Conversion System – converts the direct current (DC) from the batteries to alternating current (AC) for use in the grid.

•Thermal Management System – ensures the battery temperature is maintained within a safe operating range.

•Energy Management System – controls energy charge and discharge into the grid, using real-time data from the NEM to align electricity storage and release with consumer demand patterns.

What type of batteries will be used?

Supernode North will use grid-scale, Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries, which are one of the safest options for large-scale energy storage. These batteries operate across a wider temperature range and store more energy per unit than other types of batteries. This makes them ideal for storing large amounts of electricity for quick release when the power network needs it.

How safe is the Supernode BESS?

BESS technology is safely and widely used across the world. The system will include advanced monitoring, fire suppression and containment measures to prevent fire risks, and emergency response plans will be in place to manage incidents if they occur.

To protect our communities and keep our team and first responders safe, we will engage Halliwell Fire Research to conduct a detailed fire hazard and dispersion modelling study to analyse the potential consequences of a worst-case fire scenario. This will involve simulation of a full-scale Supernode North unit fire, based on the proposed layout of the site, the specific equipment to be installed, the surrounding land topography and typical local weather conditions.

The modelling will consider fume and gas dispersion during fire events, fire combustion products and their spread, radiant heat transfer and fire spread risks. The study will confirm the likelihood of any fault or fire being significant enough to cause the need for evacuation of neighbours or large exclusion zones, and PEP will revise the layout as necessary to ensure any such risks are reduced to an acceptable level.

With the closest neighbouring resident located over 2km away from Supernode North, it is expected a potential fire would not pose a risk to nearby residents or road users. Laboratory test results from the battery supplier showed fire spreading between Supernode North containers would be highly unlikely in the planned site layout due to internal advanced fire suppression and containment systems, and the spacing between battery containers. Once completed, study data will be shared with emergency services and incorporated into emergency response plans to keep people safe in the unlikely event of an incident.

What fire prevention measures will be put in place?

Supernode North will have comprehensive safety control systems to keep its neighbours, the community and assets safe. These will include:

•systems for the early detection of faults and to contain and suppress fire in each container

•appropriate setbacks and firebreaks to create a buffer between the site boundaries

•emergency response plans and communication protocols to respond in the unlikely event of an incident.

Supernode North equipment will be regularly inspected, tested and serviced according to the manufacturer’s requirements and industry best practice. A sophisticated Battery Monitoring System (BMS) will monitor the system for electrical shorts, faults, equipment failures and temperature increases above defined operating parameters. If issues are detected, the BMS can disconnect, isolate a battery, and notify the operator and emergency services.

Laboratory testing on other PEP projects showed a fire in a BESS container is highly unlikely to spread or ignite nearby containers, which are made of non combustible steel that retains integrity at high temperature, providing a physical barrier to fire spread. The containers feature exhaust ventilation and automatic venting hatches to prevent overpressure damage and ignition of combustible gases. On the tested system, sprinkler systems were also installed to cool the areas opposite battery packs and the containers’ internal walls, preventing fire spread and helping protect personnel and first responders. Sprinkler systems and other advanced automatic extinguisher systems will be reviewed and incorporated in the design.

An uninterrupted power supply will also be installed to ensure all monitoring and safety systems continue to operate in the case of an incident.

The site will be equipped with water tanks, fire hydrants and hoses in accordance with expert advice and guidelines.

The layout will feature physical separation between the site and surrounding bush, including fire breaks around Supernode North. The battery storage containers will be easily accessible to emergency services and safely separated from other containers, buildings and car parking. The site will incorporate multiple defined access points around the perimeter for firefighting, and the Queensland Fire Department will be given a key to the property for 24/7 access in case of emergency.

Should a significant fire occur, any water runoff will be contained and treated to remove potential public or environmental risk.

What sort of noise will Supernode North make?

Supernode North components, such as battery cooling fans, inverters and transformers, can intermittently emit a tonal humming sound. A noise assessment will be completed to ensure the Supernode North design and layout will comply with day and night-time operational noise criteria set out under the Queensland Environmental Protection (Noise) Policy 2019.

Will Supernode North generate heat?

Batteries and inverters produce heat during operation; however, the Supernode North will have features to ensure safe and efficient equipment performance, including cooling and ventilation systems to keep temperatures within a safe operating range.

Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility

How does the Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility process work?

The Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility is proposed to produce up to 150,000 tonnes of metallurgical grade silicon annually. The plant will use locally sourced wood chips and charcoal to convert Australian-mined silica (quartz) into silicon, which will be used to produce solar cells and modules for both the domestic and global energy markets. Large quantities of this type of silicon are also used in the aluminium and chemical industries.

The silicon production process uses a smelting furnace, similar to the methods used in the iron and steel industry. This is an energy-intensive process that requires a reliable, low-cost, low-emission energy source, such as the solar farms and energy storage projects in and around the LEIP.

What other infrastructure will be required?

To enable the construction and operation of the Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility, there will be significant supporting infrastructure and development required. A rail siding is proposed to be co-located on the development area and will service the Precinct. The infrastructure requirements will be developed in collaboration with the appropriate parties including Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Rail and TCC.