Queensland gives nod to 800-MW wind project

The Queensland government on Monday granted development approval for a AUD-1-billion (USD 763m/EUR 653m) wind project that will lift the Aussie state’s installed wind power capacity by over 800 MW.

The Clarke Creek wind project in central Queensland will consist of up to 195 turbines that will be erected on the mountain range in the Isaac Shire and Livingstone Shire areas. Its developer, Lacour Energy, plans to co-locate the complex with a photovoltaic (PV) park of at least 200 MW and a battery storage facility, creating a renewables hub of at least 1,000 MW.

After securing the government’s nod, the Australian renewable project developer Lacour Energy expects to complete the feasibility study on the project by the end of this year and start building the wind park at the beginning of 2019, said director Mark Rayner.

Construction of the wind park is expected to open around 350 jobs, according to the government’s announcement.

The project is seen to contribute to Queensland’s goal of reaching a 50% renewable energy target by 2030 and is one of several such schemes in the country combining wind, solar and energy storage technologies. Among them is Windlab Ltd’s (ASX:WND) 60.5-MW Kennedy hybrid renewable energy project in North Queensland.

The Australian state currently has over 20 renewables schemes that are either underway or financially committed, energy minister Anthony Lynham said.

(AUD 1.0 = USD 0.7633/EUR 0.653)

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