APA Group has signed a Joint Development Agreement with Queensland government‑owned generator CS Energy to progress the proposed 400‑megawatt Brigalow Peaking Power Plant — a fast‑start gas‑fired station slated to begin operations in 2028 next to the existing Kogan Creek Power Station in the Western Downs.
The project is intended to provide dispatchable firming capacity during periods of peak electricity demand, supporting the growing share of variable renewable generation in the National Electricity Market (NEM).
Under the agreement, APA (ASX:APA) and CS Energy will jointly develop the 400MW open‑cycle gas plant adjacent to Kogan Creek, with commercial operations targeted for 2028.
The station is expected to reach full output within about five minutes and provide enough capacity to power more than 150,000 average Queensland homes during peak periods.
Development remains conditional on state and federal planning and environmental approvals, finalisation of key development matters and execution of full form project documentation, which APA expects to complete around the middle of 2026.
Following entry into full form documentation, APA will lead delivery under a construction management agreement and, once conditions precedent are met, will acquire an 80 per cent ownership interest in the project while CS Energy will retain 20 per cent and operate and maintain the plant, including physical dispatch of its output into the market.
GE Vernova has been appointed to deliver the gas turbines for the Brigalow project, which will be configured as an open‑cycle peaking plant using multiple aeroderivative units to enable frequent starts and rapid ramp‑up.
Public information on the project notes that the design will allow the plant to perform multiple start‑stop cycles per day, which is critical to backing up wind and solar generation.
The station will be fuelled by natural gas transported via a new approximately 21‑kilometre lateral pipeline connecting the site to APA’s existing Roma–Brisbane Pipeline; APA and CS Energy finalised a Project Development and Gas Transportation and Storage Agreement for this pipeline in July 2025.
The state government has described Brigalow as Queensland’s first new gas‑fired power station in more than a decade, forming part of a broader firming portfolio that also includes Stanwell Corporation’s Lockyer Energy Project and CleanCo’s investigations into an open‑cycle gas turbine at Swanbank, which together could add more than 700MW of gas‑fired capacity by early next decade.
APA CEO and Managing Director Adam Watson said: “This project builds on APA’s existing capabilities and assets in Queensland, driving momentum in our GPG growth strategy and complementing our separate agreement with CS Energy to deliver the project’s lateral pipeline.
“We know significant investment in GPG capacity is needed to firm the integration of renewables in Australia’s energy system.
“CS Energy and the Queensland government continue to show leadership in the energy transition, with the delivery of new renewable power generation and supporting GPG infrastructure.”
CS Energy CEO Brian Gillespie said the Brigalow project is already well advanced: “The Brigalow Peaking Power Plant is the most advanced gas power project in the state, with orders for long-lead time equipment secured and agreements for gas supply and connecting pipelines already in place.
“In the coming weeks, we will commence early site works, including intersection upgrades and internal access road construction.”
