CleanCo – a State-owned renewable energy company – is set to deliver a new wind farm near Warwick in Queensland and this new clean energy project is going to become part of the 1,026MW MacIntyre Wind Farm Precinct in the Southern Downs.
Early works on this project is expected to begin later this year and major construction to get underway from mid-2021 to 2024.
“For the next few months, the entire focus of the Queensland Government is on protecting Queenslanders’ health, Queensland jobs and Queensland businesses.
“But when we move into the recovery phase, we need shovel-ready projects that will support more jobs in more industries, especially in regional Queensland,” Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad said.
In addition to the new wind farm, CleanCo will also purchase another 400MW of renewable energy from ACCIONA through a power purchase agreement (PPA) over a ten-year period.
“CleanCo’s involvement in the MacIntyre Precinct has nearly doubled the size and capacity of the wind farm, with Queenslanders set to benefit from the addition of more than one gigawatt of new renewable energy to our electricity network – the equivalent to powering almost 700,000 homes,” Deputy Premier Trad said.
This renewable energy development would also provide a boost in jobs and business opportunities across the regions of the Southern Downs and Darling Downs.
“As one of the largest onshore wind farms in the southern hemisphere, the MacIntyre Precinct will have far reaching and long lasting social and economic benefits locally, and for the whole state.
“That’s jobs and business flowing into the south west from later this year when early works start,” Minister for Energy Dr Anthony Lynham said.
The new wind farm is going to be progressively connected to the state energy grid beginning in 2022, with new 66-kilometre powerlines connecting the wind farm to the electricity network at Millmerran.
“State-owned Powerlink has already commenced working on the connection of the project to the grid, which on its own will support up to 240 jobs,” Dr Lynham added.
ACCIONA Australia will be working with CleanCo in delivering this large-scale onshore wind farm, which will comprise of about 180 wind turbines.
926MW of the new wind farm is going to be developed and owned by ACCIONA while CleanCo will develop and own the remaining 100MW.
Over the life of the project, approximately 400 jobs are going to be created, providing an economic boost for the local community. Local spend during the project's construction period is expected to be valued at more than $500 million.
“In addition to generating up to 400 jobs over its lifetime, a Community Enhancement Program will be established to deliver added value to the local community.
“The project is scheduled to begin construction in mid-2021, with a gradual start-up in phases to ensure connection to the grid with full technical guarantees for the state’s electricity system. The entire MacIntyre complex will be operational in 2024,” ACCIONA Australia Energy Managaing Director Brett Wickham said.
The $1.96 billion MacIntyre wind farm project is located about 50 kilometres south west of Warwick and 60 kilometres south-south east of Millmerran.
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Source: Queensland Government; ACCIONA Australia (1, 2); Renew Economy