MoU Signed for Queensland Wind Farms
The global energy trend is towards cleaner energy as evidenced by the UK strategy for greater energy independence. A deal for Queensland that expects to plant the seed for more renewable energy projects and boost and support innovative industries in the region. There have been Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) signed on wind energy world-wide, such as the MoU between API and OOC. Now, a MoU has been signed by Stanwell Corporation and RWE to deliver Stanwell’s 9 – 10GW pipeline of renewable energy assets across Queensland. The MoU has identified RWE’s Theodore Wind Farm (TWF) near Biloela and a second wind farm in the early-stage development in Southern Queensland.
With the thrust on greater clean energy forming the backbone, this partnership between publicly owned energy Stanwell and global company RWE is to commence with the development of two new wind farms in Central and Southern Queensland by 2029. Together, these two developments will add an additional 1.8GW back into the regional communities. The partnership will now enable negotiations on public ownership, equity, and offtake models for the projects. TWF is set to be built on a 46,000-hectare site 30 km east of Theodore and 40 km southwest of Biloela in Queensland. TWF proposes to include 160 wind turbines on the site as well as a battery storage facility with the potential to host a solar farm.
The wind farm will have the capacity to generate enough electricity to power around 410,000 Queensland homes. When given the green light to start major works, the structural steel fabrication project is expected to take up to four years to complete. TWF is expecting to require up to 500 jobs at the peak of construction and a further 50 ongoing jobs over its projected 35-year operational life. RWE is committed to prioritising local employment and engagement with Queensland businesses whenever possible. The second renewable energy project identified through the MoU will be a 720MW wind farm in its early-stage development. No further information has been released on this second project. The proposed wind farms to be developed under the MoU are expected to be completed by 2029.