Queensland’s State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) has granted development approval for the build of ACCIONA’s MacIntyre Wind Farm.
The approval clears the way for the 1,026MW MacIntyre Wind Farm Precinct to move to the next stage of development, with construction expected to start in the second half of 2021.
Generating enough clean energy to power 700,000 Queensland households, the MacIntyre Precinct will be a major contributor to achieving the Queensland Government’s goal of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030.
Featuring 162 turbines, ACCIONA will build, own and operate the MacIntyre Wind Farm. The company will develop the project in partnership with Ark Energy Corporation, a subsidiary of Korea Zinc Co, and the Australian vehicle for its clean energy business.
In addition to this, the project also saw involvement from the Queensland Government’s own renewable energy generator, CleanCo.
CleanCo will own and operate the adjacent Karara Wind Farm, which will house 18 turbines capable of producing up to 103MW of power.
ACCIONA’s Australian Managing Director for Energy, Brett Wickham, said the MacIntyre Wind Farm represents the company’s largest ever wind farm.
“We are excited to be moving forward with this project and are proud to support the Queensland Government’s decarbonisation strategy,” Mr Wickham said.
“The precinct will avoid the emission of nearly three million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, with construction slated to begin in the second half of 2021.”
Queensland Deputy Premier and Planning Minister, Steven Miles, said, “The MacIntyre Wind Farm Precinct is set to provide up to 400 local jobs during construction, with an additional 240 jobs for the construction of the 64km transmission line, and 14 fulltime jobs once in operation.
“ACCIONA also expects its local spend during construction to exceed $500 million, which is great news for the Southern Downs, Goondiwindi, and Toowoomba communities.”
Queensland Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni, said the project would deliver jobs for Queenslanders.
“I’m pleased that ACCIONA have committed to our Government’s Buy Queensland approach to use a local workforce and suppliers on this $1.96 billion project,” he said.
“This will deliver significant economic benefits for the Darling Downs and beyond, and more renewable megawatts as the state works to reach its 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030.
“The commitment to a 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030 has already enabled more than $9.9 billion of investment since December 2016 and created 7,000 construction jobs.”
The project represents the largest wind farm that ACCIONA has constructed and will be fully operational by 2024.
Up to 400 local jobs will be created during the construction phase, while the local supplier spend during this period is expected to exceed $500 million.
