AUSTRALIA —CIMIC Group company UGL has been awarded a major contract by energy infrastructure business APA Group to construct the Sybella Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Mount Isa, Queensland. Under the terms of the agreement, UGL will be responsible for the end-to-end delivery of the engineering design, procurement, construction, and commissioning of a 72MW solar farm alongside a 52MW/104MWh battery energy storage facility. Construction work for the clean energy asset is scheduled to begin in late 2026, with full project completion anticipated by mid-2028.
APA Group operates as a prominent Australian energy infrastructure corporate engaged in gas transmission, power generation, and clean energy assets. CIMIC Group company UGL is an established engineering and industrial services contractor delivering design, construction, and maintenance across Australia's utility and resources sectors. This contract further consolidates UGL's role in delivering regional grid infrastructure, marking the company's 16th solar farm project and 12th battery energy storage system engagement to date.
The installation of renewable generation and energy storage capacity in Mount Isa provides critical structural support for the North West Minerals Province. By pairing solar generation with energy storage systems, the facility improves localized grid resilience and delivers lower-emissions energy solutions to essential industrial and resource operations in regional Queensland. The project aligns directly with broader economic and decarbonization targets established for high-demand mining and extraction zones across Australia.
For commercial operators, energy developers, and industrial investors, the partnership highlights an expanding capital commitment toward hybrid utility infrastructure in remote mining regions. The integration of battery storage alongside large-scale solar farms continues to gain momentum as private firms and utility managers seek reliable energy firming to mitigate power supply risks and transition off high-emission baseload generation.
