Australia’s largest publicly-owned wind farm will be built in South Burnett, Queensland, after a $776 million investment by the State Government.
Built in the Southern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone, construction of the Tarong West Wind Farm will be managed by the state-owned Stanwell Corporation with funding from the State Government’s $2 billion Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs fund.
Featuring 150 wind turbines, the project could generate a capacity of 500MW, 200 temporary construction jobs, and 15 permanent ongoing jobs.
Announcing the investment, Premier Anastasia Palascuk said the ambitious project highlighted her government’s commitment to the net-zero transition.
“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,” Ms Palascuk said.
“After a renewable energy black out under the former LNP government, we now have 50 renewable energy projects operating or committed across Queensland,” the Premier said.
“That’s billions of dollars already invested in setting us up to capitalise on the jobs, industries, and exports of the future.
“We are now focused on what the next decade will look like, and I’ll have a lot more to say on this in this week’s CEDA State of the State address.”
The proposed Tarong West Wind Farm, at Ironpot 30km south-west of Kingaroy, sits within the Southern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone, one of three designated regions established across the state to accelerate clean energy projects.
Tarong West Wind Farm could be built in a strategic partnership with global renewable energy giant RES which has over 40 years of experience in clean electricity projects and is now active in ten countries.
RES Australia-based CEO, Matt Rebbeck, said the company was excited about the prospect of helping Queensland build more clean energy projects.
“Our vision is a future where everyone has access to affordable zero-carbon energy,” he said.
Stanwell CEO, Michael O’Rourke, said the commitment marked a significant milestone for the publicly owned corporation.
“The Tarong West Wind Farm project supports decarbonisation of our existing portfolio and will help us to meet our customers’ demand for renewable energy products,” Mr O’Rourke said.
“It will also provide future career development opportunities for our people.”
A final decision on the Tarong West Wind Farm is expected in 2024. If approved, construction would also commence in 2024, with commercial operations from 2026.
Queensland Treasurer, Cameron Dick, said the Tarong West project would boost Stanwell’s current asset portfolio and is expected to provide substantial commercial value.
Treasurer Cameron Dick said the Tarong West project, funded from the $2 billion Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs fund, would boost Stanwell’s current asset portfolio and is expected to provide substantial commercial value.
“Ownership of Tarong West Wind Farm ensures Stanwell Corporation will have dispatch control of significant renewable generation capacity,” he said.
“In the past four years, the Palaszczuk Government has delivered up to $575 of dividends to Queensland electricity customers via asset ownership dividends and cost of living rebates.
“All that money – nearly $1.19 billion – has gone back into the pockets of Queenslanders instead of corporate shareholders.
“That’s only possible because Queenslanders own a significant stake in the state’s electricity assets.”
