Western Downs Green Power solar hub outside Toowoomba now connected to electricity grid

A massive solar farm project west of Toowoomba, which will be the largest in Australia once complete, has now been connected to the state’s energy grid.

The Western Downs Green Power Hub is set to be Australia's biggest solar farm, generating enough energy to power 235,000 Queensland homes. Pic: Neoen

A major solar farm west of Toowoomba worth $600m has reached a significant milestone, with connection to the electricity grid now complete.

Neoen’s $600 million Western Downs Green power hub near Chinchilla has supported more than 450 construction jobs and will generate 400 megawatts of solar energy.

Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said the government-backed project was a record breaker in terms of scale and energy production, producing more than 1080 gigawatt hours per year and avoiding more than 800,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

“Powerlink’s completion of connection works marks a significant milestone for the project and continues progress towards achieving the government’s 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030,” Mr de Brenni said.

“Once complete, this solar farm will generate enough electricity for more than 230,000 Queensland homes – equivalent to powering a city four times the size of Toowoomba.

“This is further proof of Queensland’s credentials as a renewables and hydrogen super power, with cleaner, cheaper energy delivering Queensland’s plan for economic recovery from COVID-19, driving new manufacturing jobs and sustaining existing industry.

“This record-breaking project near Chinchilla is backed by government-owned clean energy company CleanCo, which has committed to purchasing 320MW of the solar power produced.”

Mr de Brenni said the project would generate more than $850 million in overall economic activity for Queensland, with 25 per cent expected to be spent in the Western Downs.

“The ongoing economic benefit is estimated at around $32 million per year for the Queensland economy, 90 per cent of which is expected to directly benefit the Western Downs region,” he said.

Powerlink chief executive Paul Simshauser said grid connection works, which supported 28 jobs, involved building six kilometres of new transmission line and connection works at Powerlink’s existing Western Downs substation.

“This newly-built transmission line feeds into Neoen’s Hopeland Substation, which has also now been energised to help transport the renewable energy generated at the solar farm to the national electricity market,” he said.

“Following our project team’s commitment to achieving on-ground works safely and efficiently, we are proud to mark completion of our construction activities.

“We look forward to working with Neoen to undertake final testing and commissioning in coming months as solar farm development continues to progress.”

CleanCo Queensland chair Jacqui Walters said the hub would add significant renewable energy capacity.

“The 320MW of solar energy we’ve secured from this project joins CleanCo’s unique portfolio of wind, hydro and gas generation and enables us to offer reliable, low emissions energy at a competitive price for our customers,” she said.