The Queensland Government has announced that CleanCo, a publicly owned renewable company, has signed an agreement to take power from the Dulacca Renewable Energy Project, generating up to 180MW of wind energy and creating 150 jobs.
As well as creating construction jobs, Queensland’s renewable power is helping lure manufacturers to the state, decarbonising the economy and creating more jobs for Queenslanders as part of the state’s COVID-19 economic recovery plan.
The Dulacca Renewable Energy Project is an approved wind farm and energy storage facility located between the communities of Dulacca and Drillham, in the Western Downs Region of Queensland.
Queensland Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni, said, “We know it’s important to ensure the jobs in the construction of this project are decent jobs, with a focus on locals and our Buy Qld procurement rules make sure of that.
“CleanCo was established by the Palaszczuk Government with a mandate to bring 1,400MW of new renewable energy into the market and really drive the energy transformation through investment in renewable energy projects.
“CleanCo has committed to take 70 percent or 126MW from the Dulacca Wind Farm, adding to the impressive 980MW of renewable energy CleanCo has already committed to bring to market over the next three years, bringing the total to more than 1GW.
“When operational, this Dulacca Wind Farm will be able to power more than 120,000 Queensland homes.”
The Dulacca Wind Farman will be owned by Octopus Australia, one of the largest owners of renewable energy projects in Australia and RES; the world’s largest independent renewable energy company, will support the delivery of the project.
CleanCo CEO, Dr Maia Schweizer, said the wind energy generated by the Dulacca Renewable Energy Project would complement CleanCo’s growing portfolio of renewable energy generation.
“CleanCo’s generation portfolio enables us to offer uniquely low-emissions energy to our large commercial and industrial customers,” Dr Schweizer said.
“Power Purchase Agreements like this one mean we can offer competitively priced energy contracts supported by renewables and our fleet of low-emissions firming generation, guaranteeing supply day and night.
“The benefits of these agreements are far-reaching – our customers meet their sustainability targets at a competitive cost, helping them to remain relevant in a decarbonising world, and in turn we help Queensland meet our state emissions targets.”
RES’ CEO in Australia, Matt Rebbeck, said the company was proud to work together with CleanCo on this project, with the Power Purchase Agreement being the cornerstone that enables the project to accelerate the transformation to a zero-carbon future.
“As well as co-existing alongside the agricultural use of the land, the project will contribute towards the Queensland Government’s target of 50 per cent renewables by 2030,” Mr Rebbeck said.
“The Dulacca Renewable Energy Project will be constructed over a two-year period beginning this year and will bring more than $400 million in regional economic activity and a range of ongoing economic and social benefits.
“In addition, a community fund of $1.25 million will provide funding opportunities for local projects, educational and environmental initiatives, community groups and organisations within the communities surrounding the project.”
Octopus Australia’s Managing Director, Sam Reynolds, said the community was at the heart of the company’s involvement and significant wind projects like Dulacca were key to helping decarbonise power generation in Australia.
“This project follows our strategy of creating a diversified portfolio across location and technology that matches what the future of Australian energy should look like,” Mr Reynolds said.
“This is Octopus’ fourth large scale Australian renewable asset, and with projects in New South Wales, Victoria and now Queensland we hit an important milestone in managing over $1 billion, across construction and operational assets in the country, with ambitions to continue this rapid growth”.
