CS Energy
| Company type | Government-owned corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electricity generation |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Fortitude Valley, Brisbane , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Tony Bellas (Board Chair), Darren Busine (CEO) |
| Products | Electricity generation, energy storage |
Number of employees | 500+ |
CS Energy is an electricity generation firm based in Australia, fully owned by the Government of Queensland and headquartered in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. Founded in 1997, the company employs a workforce exceeding 500 individuals. The Board Chair is Tony Bellas, while Darren Busine holds the position of CEO.
The organization’s generation assets encompass coal-fired power stations, renewable energy offtakes, and energy storage solutions. CS Energy operates a trading portfolio totaling 3,535 megawatts within Australia’s national electricity market. Its holdings include ownership and operation of Kogan Creek Power Station and Callide B Power Station, alongside a 50/50 joint venture partnership with InterGen for Callide Power Station.
Currently, CS Energy is advancing the Chinchilla Battery project—a 100 MW/200 MWh grid-scale storage facility located at the Kogan Creek site in Western Downs. Construction activities are ongoing, with commencement of operations anticipated by late 2023.
In 2010, under the Rudd Government’s Renewable Energy Demonstration Program, CS Energy was awarded A$32 million to pioneer Australia’s inaugural large-scale solar thermal project at Kogan Creek. This initiative was discontinued in 2016, leading to financial losses amounting to $40 million for CS Energy and $6 million for ARENA.
In 2020, both CS Energy and Stanwell Corporation faced accusations of deliberately limiting supply to inflate electricity prices. They are currently defending a class action lawsuit concerning past pricing practices, with an initial Federal Court hearing scheduled for June 2024. CS Energy rejects these allegations and is actively contesting the legal proceedings.
Assets
CS Energy’s principal assets include:
- Callide Power Station
- Kogan Creek Power Station along with Kogan Creek Mine
- Chinchilla Battery (in operation)
- Greenbank Battery (currently under construction)
Management
Martin Moore held the CEO role in 2017. Andrew Bills assumed the CEO position in 2018 and stepped down in February 2023 to join SA Power Networks as its leader. Darren Busine was appointed permanent CEO in June 2023.
Chairman Jim Soorley resigned in June 2023 after serving since 2015. His successor is Adam Aspinall, a CS Energy director, as announced by Queensland Energy Minister Mick de Brenni.