General News
9 October, 2022
Queensland’s First Renewable Energy Zone in FNQ
THE Far North’s Kaban Green Power Hub reached a major milestone this week, with the $373 million wind farm project now officially connected to Queensland’s new SuperGrid.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Deputy Premier Steven Miles and Minister for Energy and Renewables Mick de Brenni were on the Tablelands on Tuesday to help power up the project, which is a part of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan announced by the Premier last week.
The Premier said the 157MW project can now power homes and businesses in the Far North with clean green renewable energy.
“The Kaban Green Power Hub being energised via Powerlink’s Tumoulin Switching Station means clean energy is being injected into the new Queensland SuperGrid,” the Premier said.
“Construction of the project is now past the halfway mark with 16 of the 28 turbines complete.
“Once complete early next year will generate 460,000MW hours of clean energy a year, enough to power up to 100,000 homes.”
The Premier said the project would play an essential role in helping Queensland meet its new renewable energy target of 70 per cent by 2032.
“As part of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, we are bringing more renewable energy into the network through projects like the Kaban Green Power Hub, delivering cleaner, cheaper energy to Queenslanders,” the Premier said.
“Our recently released Queensland Energy and Jobs plan maps out how we will unlock even more renewable energy and unleash 100,000 new good jobs across the state, mostly in regional Queensland.”
The Kaban Green Power Hub is part of the Northern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone and supports 250 jobs.
Global green energy giant Neoen is developing the project, and publicly owned CleanCo has an agreement to purchase 100% of the clean energy generated.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the project was the first in the Northern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone.
“This project is perfectly positioned to capitalise on the world-renowned wind resources of Northern Queensland,” the Deputy Premier said.
“By bringing more renewable energy into the system, we can help put downward pressure on prices.”
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said the Government was investing $700 million in North Queensland’s transmission network over the next five years to bring more clean energy into the system.
“This new transmission infrastructure will be delivered by Powerlink and will unlock an additional 500MW of renewables capacity in the region,” Mr de Brenni said.
“Projects like this enable the cost-effective connection of multiple renewable energy developments into the network, making it easier to bring more clean energy to enter the system.
“Key to the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan is leveraging the public ownership of our energy businesses to drive investment in large-scale generation, transmission and storage infrastructure – and that is exactly what this project is helping deliver.”
Publicly owned low-emissions energy generator and retailer CleanCo will use 100 per cent of the clean electricity produced at the Kaban Green Power Hub.
Neoen Managing Director Louis de Sambucy said the business was extremely proud of Kaban’s role as the cornerstone project of Queensland’s first Renewable Energy Zone and was delighted to have reached this important milestone of first energisation.
“I’d like to thank the Queensland Government and CleanCo for their vision and support, and Powerlink for their hard work and commitment in delivering the essential transmission infrastructure,” Mr de Sambucy said.
From the base of the tower to the highest tip of the blade, the 28 wind turbines to be constructed on the site will reach 230 metres to fully capture the site’s high wind potential.
