Who is Progress Power?

Progress Power applies innovative thinking to advancing Australia’s renewable energy targets. Driven to create a reliable and clean future, our aim is to contribute to the path toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

What is the Springvale Energy Hub?

The Springvale Energy Hub combines energy storage, solar and emerging technology in one metropolitan location. It’s a multi-stage development on 47 hectares in the south-east Melbourne suburb of Springvale between Clarke and Westall roads. The hub will be Australia’s first large scale renewable energy facility built on an urban landfill.

Why is the Springvale Energy Hub unique?

The Springvale Energy Hub is at the forefront of innovation.  Progress Power and its specialist team engineered a custom landfill cap, setting a new industry standard and allowing a range of land use options. It highlights how an environmental liability can be transformed into an important community asset. The site is in a metropolitan area, which unlocks a range of additional benefits for energy use.

What are the benefits of a renewable energy facility in a metropolitan area?

Most metropolitan homes rely on energy transmitted over long distances from regional areas. By maintaining a local power source, residents are less dependent on infrastructure such as transmission lines. Grid connection is close to the site, meaning stable energy can be easily supplied in periods of high demand.

What is a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), and how does it work at the Springvale Energy Hub?

Across Victoria, residential solar panels flood the grid with energy during periods of sunlight. This often leads to an excess of energy produced at off-peak times. A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) means that excess energy can be stored and released back into the grid as it’s needed during peak times. Grid connection is close to the Springvale Energy Hub site, meaning stable energy can be easily supplied.

What technology will the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) use and what are the risks?

The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will use similar technology to regular batteries installed in homes. There are no known health risks associated with large-scale batteries that are properly installed and maintained.

How much clean energy will the Springvale Energy Hub produce?

The Springvale Energy Hub (once stage 2 is completed) is expected to produce enough green electricity per year to power around 25,112 average Victorian homes. This will prevent the emission of 116,690 tonnes of C02 per year, equivalent to removing 25,378 cars from the road or reducing the number of smartphones charged by 14 billion.

Is the Springvale Energy Hub ready to be built?

Progress Power received planning approval to develop the Springvale Energy Hub in 2021. Detailed design for Stage 1, a 2-hour Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), is underway. Construction of Stage 1 is expected to begin in 2025, with operations planned for 2027. Planning is underway for Stage 2 and future stages.

What does Stage 1 involve?

Stage 1 involves constructing a 115 MW / 230 MWh two-hour Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to power hundreds of thousands of homes, with operations planned for 2027.

What does Stage 2 and future stages involve?

Stage 2 will deliver an increase in the capacity and duration of energy storage to more than four hours. This stage will require network upgrades. Future stages will incorporate an Electronic Vehicle (EV) charging precinct for buses and commercial electric vehicles, a utility-scale solar panel (PV) development to harness the power of the sun to generate clean energy, and community infrastructure development.

What benefits does the Springvale Energy Hub bring to communities?

Progress Power will deliver a range of lasting community benefits and initiatives as part of the Springvale Energy Hub development. The community will co-design the initiatives, including a benefit fund which aims to target areas of need and influence positive outcomes.

Around $170 million will be injected into the Victorian economy and specialist jobs will be created. This includes 50 full and part-time jobs during design and construction, and seven ongoing jobs during operation. The skills required are specialised and job opportunities include civil works, concrete works, fencing and landscaping. Progress Power will aim to fill positions locally, where possible.

How does Progress Power engage with the community?

Progress Power is committed to an open and transparent approach to community engagement. Engagement with the local community and stakeholders to date has included: community information sessions, meetings with residents and stakeholders, targeted letters, flyers, website updates and ‘contact us’ page, toll free hotline. Deliberative engagement has influenced landscaping and tree planting around the perimeter of the site. Progress Power will continue communication and engagement with all stakeholders and welcomes all enquiries and feedback.

How will the Springvale Energy Hub development impact neighbours?

The Springvale Energy Hub’s location means the facility will not have direct contact with residential areas of Springvale. Progress Power will provide a significant screen of Environment Protection Authority (EPA)-approved vegetation to improve the current view of the site. Given the location, Progress Power expects minimal traffic, noise and dust impacts and will work to reduce these as much as possible.

Why can’t trees be planted on the site?

Tree roots can spread considerably down into the ground as they chase water, opening pathways for water to get in and gas to get out. This interferes with landfill gas to energy extraction systems, undermining cap integrity and decreasing its environmental performance. For this reason, Environment Protection Authority (EPA) guidance for revegetation of old landfills requires trees and other plants with deep roots to be planted around the perimeter of the site, with grasses with shallow root depth used in the centre.  This leaves an open space well-suited for solar energy production.

Will residents lose their open space?

The Springvale Energy Hub site was formerly a landfill area and closed to the public. The land is surrounded by three areas of parkland - Effie Reserve on Spring Road, Spring Road Reserve on Westall Road and Spring Valley Park.

What is the land currently used for?

The site is not in use. It was a sand extraction pit during the 1970s and then used for landfill until the mid 1990s.

Can you build and operate a renewable energy facility on top of a landfill?

Yes. The key is to ensure the landfill cap beneath is operating at optimum performance before and during renewable energy facility operation. Environmental monitoring data at the Springvale Energy Hub site shows consistently high cap performance. The proposed renewable energy infrastructure will not reduce the cap’s performance, with testing to continue throughout the project's life to ensure ongoing compliance with Environment Protection Authority (EPA) requirements.

Are there environmental concerns?

The Springvale Energy Hub will generate clean energy, with the aim of supporting Australia’s renewable energy targets and shaping a more sustainable future. The hub will be designed, constructed and operated in accordance with the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) guidelines and requirements. The EPA requires all former landfills to conduct a fully audited review of the site, with the results to be reported annually. This will continue for the life of the site.

How will I be kept informed?

Regular updates will be provided on the Progress Power website as the project progresses. If you would like to stay informed, please email info@progresspower.copm.au or subscribe below.