 has announced plans to build a 500MW wind farm near Wandoan on Queensland's Western Downs.){kind=link}
By HARRY CLARKE
QUEENSLAND company Renewable Energy Partners (REP) has announced plans to build a 500MW wind farm near Wandoan on Queensland’s Western Downs.
The project will comprise 96 wind turbines across a 14,000ha site, making it one of the largest wind farms under development in the Western Downs region.
REP CEO Luke McDonald said: “We are excited to be developing another large scale renewable energy project in the Western Downs region of Queensland”.
“Having received strong support from both the Queensland government and the Western Downs Council for our other renewable energy projects in the area, we are encouraged to support the Western Downs region becoming the renewable energy powerhouse of Australia,” he said.
The project is expected to create 250 jobs during construction and up to 22 jobs during ongoing operations.
A REP media release said the the wind farm would reduce 1.1 million tonnes of CO2 being discharged into the atmosphere each year and power up to 172,000 homes.
“Working with the key stakeholders on the project will be key to its success,” McDonald said.
“Given all of the CSG (coal seam gas) activity around Wandoan, working with the CSG companies on a layout of the wind farm that meets the operating requirements of the landowners, the communities expectations and is complementary to the existing gas infrastructure is our focus.
“Allowing landowners to receive multiple income streams from both CSG and renewable energy related activities and giving back to the local community is a win-win for everyone involved’.
The Wandoan project will REP’s fourth wind farm project in Queensland, alongside the 500MW Wambo wind farm being co-developed with Cubico, the 900MW Proserpine wind farm, the 500MW Karma wind farm and the 500MW Eungella wind farm associated with the Bowen Renewable Energy Hub.
REP said it was also considering building a solar power system and storage battery within the project area during the feasibility phase of the wind project.