The official opening of the Dulacca Wind Farm has brought Queensland one step closer to its renewable energy targets, with the renewable energy generated expected to lower the cost of electricity.
The 180MW project, owned by Octopus and developed by RES, created 150 jobs in regional Queensland at its construction peak.
State-owned CleanCo has a long-term power purchase agreement with the Dulacca Wind Farm to acquire 70 per cent of the output (or 126MW), meaning that the renewable energy generated in the Western Downs will support CleanCo to provide affordable, clean energy to its customers.
These customers include BHP Mitsubishi Alliance as well as the Scentre Group, which owns and operates Queensland’s Westfield shopping centres.
Premier of Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said that Queensland is leading the nation when it comes to renewable energy.
“The Dulacca Wind Farm represents a significant moment in Queensland’s energy transformation, twelve months on from the establishment of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, and highlights our commitment to cleaner, cheaper energy for Queenslanders,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“We’re not just powering Queensland, we’re contributing to a global shift toward decarbonisation, and our publicly owned clean energy generator CleanCo is at the forefront.
“This is a part of our government’s Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, which is all about a future of cheaper, cleaner, and secure energy for Queenslanders, powering good jobs across the state.”
Queensland Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni, said that with every newly connected wind farm, Queensland is applying downward pressure on power bills, with the state’s wholesale power costs trending cheaper this last quarter.
“CleanCo’s partnership with Scentre Group, the owner and operator of Queensland’s Westfield shopping centres, which by 2025 will be powered by clean energy produced by this wind farm, exemplifies how we’re driving the energy transformation that benefits all Queenslanders,” Mr de Brenni said.
“Consumers everywhere are demanding reductions in embedded emissions, and in the future, Queenslanders can shop at their local Westfield knowing they’re making a contribution to preventing damaging climate change.”
RES in Australia’s CEO, Matt Rebbeck, said that the official opening of the Dulacca Wind Farm is a significant milestone in the mission to create a sustainable energy future.
“We are proud to contribute to Queensland’s renewable energy goals and look forward to powering homes and businesses around the state with clean, affordable and reliable energy from this state-of-the-art wind farm,” Mr Rebbeck said.
“We are pleased to be continuing our involvement in this outstanding project and we are looking forward to supporting our partners at Octopus through the operation of the wind farm.”
Octopus Investments Australia Managing Director, Sam Reynolds, said that Octopus is excited about the opening of Dulacca Wind Farm and is proud to be supporting the Queensland Government’s Energy and Jobs Plan and working with its partners RES and CleanCo.
“Dulacca is a significant milestone for Octopus with our first operating wind farm in Queensland,” Mr Reynolds said.
“Octopus has a number of other renewable development projects in the Western Downs region, supporting the build out of the Queensland SuperGrid. This includes our recent 1GWh Queensland battery and Western Downs Energy Park to support providing clean, cheap and reliable firmed renewable energy to Queenslanders.”
Featured image: Dulacca Wind Farm. Image credit: The Queensland Government.
