Construction on the $850 million Coopers Gap Wind Farm on Queensland’s Darling Downs region is now underway, and the project is expected to support up to 200 jobs.
Coopers Gap Wind Farm – located about 250 kilometres west of Brisbane – is set to become Australia’s largest wind farm.
“This is the second large-scale renewable project in the Western Downs to get underway.
“Coopers Gap will bring $850 million of investment, 200 construction jobs, and up to 20 ongoing operational jobs to the Western Downs,” Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said.
This 453MW, 123-turbine wind farm will produce approximately 1,510,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable energy a year which is enough to power over 260,000 average Australian homes.
Work to connect the wind farm to the grid is already underway, with Powerlink constructing a new 275kV substation located at Cooranga North. The substation is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2018.
“The Western Downs is fast becoming Australia’s renewable energy capital, with Coopers Gap and 10 approved solar projects.
“Together, they represent more than 2,000 megawatts of renewable energy that will help power Queensland’s electricity grid and its regional economies, and help us meet our international emissions reduction commitments,” Dr Lynham said.
This project was developed by AGL, who is working closely with the GE – Catcon consortium for the successful delivery of Coopers Gap Wind Farm.
Coopers gap Wind Farm is expected to be fully operational by mid-2019.
Interested in working on renewable energy projects? Acciona Energy is expanding their supplier base for upcoming Wind and Solar projects and want to hear from interested companies in VIC, NSW and QLD. Learn more about the EOI opportunity here: https://goo.gl/A3KgMd
Stay up to date with the latest Australian wind farm projects updates as well as other renewable energy project news by subscribing to Felix Project News.
Source: Queensland Government, AGL