Why South Burnett is fast becoming the renewable powerhouse of QLD
More green energy projects have been approved in the South Burnett in the past five years compared to any other point in the region’s history, paving the way for it to become a renewable powerhouse. These are the projects underway.
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Across the past five years more renewable projects have been approved in the South Burnett compared to any other point in time in the region, paving the way for it to become top players of renewable energy in the state.
Although at times controversial, the projects are in line with the direction of Queensland’s long term energy plan with 80 per cent of the states energy to come from renewable sources by 2035.
These are the major projects built, or in the works, across the region.
Coopers Gap Wind Farm
Construction on the Coopers Gap Wind farm began in 2018 and was completed in 2020 making it the largest wind farm in Queensland and one of the largest in Australia.
Located 5km northwest of the Bunya Mountains, the farm overlaps into both the Western Downs Regional Council and the South Burnett Regional council districts.
The cost of constructing the 115 turbines was reported to be $850 million.
Taron West Wind Farm
The proposed Taron West Wind Farm located at Ironpot, 30km southwest of Kingaroy, is expected to have up to 150 turbines.
Last year Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk spoke about the benefits of the Taron West wind farm.
“This project with up to 150 turbines could generate 500MW capacity, enough clean electricity to power up to 230,000 homes,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“It will also create around 200 jobs during construction and 15 ongoing jobs when operational.
“It’s investments like this that will ensure we deliver on our net-zero ambitions and our promise to Queenslanders to become a global renewable energy superpower,” she said.
Construction on the wind farm is expected to commence in 2024 and completed by 2026.
Wambo Wind Farm
Wambo Wind Farm is a renewable energy generation project located about 20km west of Ironpot.
The project is a 50-50 split joint venture between Cubico Sustainable Investments, a major investor in the renewable energy sector globally and Stanwell, a state government owned electricity generator.
The first stage of construction commenced in June 2023 and is expected to be completed by 2025.
Stage two is expected to commence soon after with a total of 110 turbines by the completion of the entire project.
Stanwell CEO, Michael O’Rourke said the wind farm forms part of Stanwell’s rapidly accelerating pipeline of renewable energy projects set to total 9–10GW of clean energy capacity by 2035.
“Our growing pipeline means that we can expand our renewable offerings for our commercial and industrial customers and support the State Government’s target of 80 per cent renewable energy by 2035,” Mr O’Rourke said.
Mannuem Wind Farm
Mannuem Wind Farm is a 64MW onshore wind power project which is being developed and currently owned by Australian Energy Wind Farm.
It will be developed in a single phase and is expected to be commissioned in 2024.
The project, located about 32km west of Kingaroy, is expected to consist of 16 turbines which the company said is enough clean energy to power 35,000 households.
Kingaroy Solar Farm
The Kingaroy Solar Farm, owned by Terrain Solar, is a 40MW solar farm located approximately 3km east of Kingaroy.
The now-completed project was controversial project right from the start, with South Burnett Regional Council rejecting the initial application.
Terrain Solar won an ensuing case in the Planning and Environment Court, after which Mytilineos acquired the project and have entered into a PPA with SmartestEnergy.
The first energy from the project is expected to be exported to the grid in early 2024.
Tumuruu Solar Farm
The most recent renewable project to be approved is the Tumuruu Solar farm which will be located about 3km north of Blackbutt.
The council avoided a repeat of the Kingaroy solar project, with councillors voting almost unanimously – Councillor Kathy Duff was the lone dissenting vote – to approve the project subject to a range of conditions.
No date has been announced for the construction of the project but is expected some time in 2024.
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Originally published as Why South Burnett is fast becoming the renewable powerhouse of QLD
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