The Tarong West Wind Farm, Australia’s largest publicly owned wind farm, is set to be built after the Premier announced the $776 million in funding.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk visited the Southern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone to make the significant announcement regarding the construction of the Tarong West Wind Farm by the publicly owned Stanwell Corporation, which will take place this week along with the biggest energy and climate change announcement in Queensland’s history.
“This project with up to 150 turbines could generate 500MW capacity, enough clean electricity to power up to 230,000 homes. It will also create around 200 jobs during construction and 15 ongoing jobs when operational. 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,” the Premier said.
Since taking office in 2015, the Premier claimed that her administration had made great efforts to guarantee Queenslanders a future powered by sustainable energy.
“After a renewable energy black out under the former LNP government, we now have 50 renewable energy projects operating or committed across Queensland. That’s billions of dollars already invested in setting 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 Premier added.
The Tarong West project, sponsored by the $2 billion Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs fund, is anticipated to add significantly to the economic value of Stanwell’s present asset portfolio, according to Treasurer Cameron Dick.
“Ownership of Tarong West Wind Farm ensures Stanwell Corporation will have dispatch control of significant renewable generation capacity,” Treasurer Dick said.
In the past four years, Treasurer Dick stated the State Government has delivered up to $575 of dividends to Queensland electricity customers via asset ownership dividends and cost-of-living rebates.
“That’s only possible because Queenslanders own a significant stake in the state’s electricity assets,” he added.
Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said the least expensive source of electricity was renewable energy.
“Today’s funding announcement shows Queenslanders that the Palaszczuk Government is serious about becoming a global renewable energy powerhouse. It provides assurance that Queensland will be able to deliver on its promise of affordable and reliable power for new industries and new manufacturing sectors in the clean energy era of tomorrow,” Minister de Brenni stated.
Minister de Brenni added that by expanding Queensland’s publicly owned renewable energy generation portfolio, Queenslanders would maintain control over their energy system as it transforms to produce fewer emissions.
The Southern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone, one of three designated areas developed across the state to expedite renewable energy projects, is where the proposed Tarong West Wind Farm is located, in Ironpot, 30 kilometres southwest of Kingaroy.
A strategic alliance with the world’s largest provider of renewable energy, RES, which has over 40 years of experience in clean energy projects and is currently engaged in 10 countries, might lead to the construction of Tarong West Wind Farm.
RES Australia-based CEO Matt Rebbeck expressed the company’s excitement about the prospect of assisting Queensland to 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 stated that the commitment marked a substantial milestone for the publicly owned company.
“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. It will also provide future career development opportunities for our people,” O’Rourke added.
Tarong West Wind Farm’s final approval is anticipated in 2024. If permitted, the building would also start in 2024, and business operations would start in 2026.
