Aussie govt grants enviro consent to 800-MW wind project

Having secured all state and national planning approvals, Australia-based Lacour Energy is getting ready to launch construction on an 800-MW wind project in Central Queensland in 2019.

The developer’s partner in the project is Chinese wind turbine maker Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology (HKG:2208). The latter announced on Monday that the so-called Clarke Creek scheme, planned to be the largest one of its kind in Australia, has been granted environmental approval by the Australian government.

The wind farm, requiring an investment of over AUD 1.5 billion (USD 1.1bn/EUR 976.1m), will consist of up to 195 Goldwind turbines that will be erected on the mountain range in the Isaac Shire and Livingstone Shire areas. Lacour Energy and Goldwind intend to co-locate it with a 400-MW photovoltaic (PV) park and a battery storage facility, according to the statement.

The partners are currently seeking expressions of interest in a tender for the wind farm's balance of plant works. Goldwind will manage the construction of the scheme, which was greenlighted by the Queensland government in the summer. Approvals for the addition of a 400-MW solar park and a grid-scale battery system are also in place.

(AUD 1.0 = USD 0.737/EUR 0.651)

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