Samsung eyes northwest Qld for massive renewables project
Global behemoth Samsung is eyeing off land in northwest Queensland for a potentially huge renewable energy project. What we know >>
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South Korean giant Samsung is reportedly eyeing off major tracts of land along CopperString’s northwest corridor to build wind, solar and battery farms.
While the multinational is keeping tight-lipped, the Bulletin can report a key executive from Seoul visited multiple councils in western North Queensland in recent months, looking for suitable parcels of land.
Samsung’s construction and engineering arm, Samsung C&T, sent the Korean-based general manager to the region at the end of May.
General manager of renewable energy development Queensland, Hyojin Kim, had a Queensland-based land agent with him.
McKinlay Shire Council chief executive Trevor Williams said Mr Kim was looking for 1000ha of land for solar, wind and batteries along the line of CopperString.
The council does not own land parcels along the CopperString line large enough to be of interest to Samsung, the council chief executive said.
The McKinlay shire was excited about the prospect of Samsung investing but Mr Williams put the onus on the state government to build the infrastructure so renewable projects could feed into the grid.
Early stage building of the 1000km, $5bn CopperString transmission line from Mount Isa to Townsville has begun and is forecast to be completed by 2029.
Samsung C&T expressed interest in a 500-megawatt to one-gigawatt facility, Mr Williams said.
Samsung’s largest wind project is 270MW, called K2, in Ontario, Canada. Its largest solar project is 25MW in Alberta and its largest storage facility is in eastern Canada, holding 250KW (0.25MW).
“I don’t think Julia Creek was the only place he went,” Mr Williams said of Mr Kim’s inquiries.
Richmond Shire mayor John Wharton confirmed he took a meeting with Samsung.
Even though he said “I can’t talk on their behalf”, the mayor went on to say “if CopperString doesn’t come, neither will Samsung”.
His council did not have parcels of land large enough for Samsung either.
In response to Bulletin inquiries, a Samsung spokesman said: “Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia is at an early stage in market development and looking into business opportunities in Australia”.
“We currently do not have any official engagement in the PV (photovoltaic – materials and devices which convert sunlight into electrical energy) development to lay out with respect to your inquiry.”
Samsung C&T Renewable Energy Australia is one of 566 unlisted affiliates, connected with London-listed Samsung Electronics Co.
Samsung has solar construction companies based in the USA and Canada and has invested in wind companies by way of umbrella corporation Samsung Renewable Energy.
The company has solar projects in Canada, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, Slovenia, Korea and eight in California.
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Originally published as Samsung eyes northwest Qld for massive renewables project
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