Renewable energy Qld: Twiggy Forrest-backed $3b wind, solar farm

A $3 billion wind, solar and battery project now under construction in Central Queensland has the potential to power 40 per cent of the state’s houses.

Construction of a mega renewable energy project backed by billionaire Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest has begun, with the $3 billion wind, solar and battery precinct in Central Queensland set to power 40 per cent of the state’s homes once complete.

The Clarke Creek renewable energy precinct, nestled between Rockhampton and Mackay, is billed to be the largest grid-connected project in the nation and at more than 1.5GW at full completion will rival Queensland’s largest coal fired power plants in capacity.

The project is now owned by Squadron Energy, a company within Dr Forrest’s investment arm Tattarang, and has been in conception since at least 2017.

The first stage of the project involves 100 wind turbines — each 207m tall base to wing tip — stretching across 18km —eventually producing 450MW of electricity once complete in 2025.

Queensland’s state-owned electricity generator Stanwell had already signed up to take most of the energy, 346.5MW, with plans to sell that to its large commercial and industrial customers.

Stanwell chief executive Michael O’Rourke confirmed the government-owned corporation would be looking to negotiate buying more energy from the Clarke Creek project in its next phase as it seeks to “diversify” a coal-heavy portfolio.

At peak construction phase one of the project will provide 350 jobs.

Dignitaries conduct the sod-turning ceremony yesterday.

The second phase will bring more than 100 additional wind turbines, 500MW of solar energy and a 2GWh battery so large it will take up an estimated 7ha of land.

Like other wind projects in the state’s north it benefits from the geographic quirk of strong night time gusts, thus producing power at a time solar is not an option.

“There is currently a large supply gap in wind generation in order to meet 2030 projections due to the electrification of industry and transport,” Squadron Energy chairman John Hartman said.

“We believe large energy hubs like Clarke Creek, which leverage multiple technologies and storage to deliver firmed power, are a crucial solution.”

Grazier Simon McAuley-Powell revealed he had been approached initially in 2017 in relation and part of his properties — collectively 20,000ha – had now been leased out for the project.

He said it was “daunting” at the beginning but the process, while “slow and tedious”, was otherwise smooth.

“I thought they were joking to be honest with you, to build a bloody wind farm up here,” Mr McAuley-Powell said.

“But next thing you know they were testing and testing, so the longer it went on the more certain we thought it would be… they were fair dinkum.”

There are not yet clear timelines on when construction of phase two will begin or be completed.

Clarke Creek grazier Simon McAulay-Powell. Picture: Madura McCormack

Originally published as Renewable energy Qld: Twiggy Forrest-backed $3b wind, solar farm