Federal Government Invests $160 Million to Connect Australia’s Largest Wind Farm

This photo shows the Challicum Hills wind farm in Ararat, Australia on Nov. 16, 2006. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)

Australia’s largest wind farm precinct could soon commence operation after the federal government announced more funding to speed up its connection to the national power grid.

Under an agreement between the federal and Queensland governments, the former will invest $160 million (US$113 million) to build new infrastructure to connect power generated from the Southern Downs renewable energy zone to the grid.

Powerlink, a Queensland government company, will be responsible for building and operating 65 kilometres of high-voltage overhead transmission lines and two new switching stations.

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the agreement would provide households and businesses in southern Queensland and the east coast of Australia with more renewable energy.

“We are delivering on our Powering Australia plan, which includes a major boost to renewable energy supplies to help create jobs and reduce emissions across the nation,” he said.

“The best way to put downward pressure on energy prices is to ramp up investment in renewables, transmission and storage.”

The $160 million investment is the first instance of cooperation between the federal Clean Energy Finance Corporation and a company owned by the Queensland government.

It is expected to help establish one of the southern hemisphere’s most significant wind projects and provide power to 700,000 Queensland homes.

Sheep graze in front of wind turbines on Lake George on the outskirts of Canberra, Australia, on Sep. 1, 2020. (David Gray/Getty Images)

Speaking about the investment, Queensland Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said three east Australian states would see an improvement in power reliability.

“It also presents another opportunity to build onshore capability and skill Queenslanders for renewable energy jobs of the future,” he said.

“This model also connects cheaper renewable generation in a way that minimises costs and risks for Queensland businesses and households.”

Another Wind Farm Project Announces Completion Time Frame

The news of the $160 million funding comes as the time frame for the completion of another major offshore Australian wind farm is announced.

Flotation Energy Australia’s managing director Tim Sawyer told the Gippsland New Energy Conference on Aug. 11 that the company’s 1.5-gigawatt Seadragon Offshore Wind Project could be up and running within six years.

Flotation Energy, which recently built the world’s largest floating offshore wind farm in Scotland, said the company could build the Seadragon project adjacent to oil and gas platforms in the Bass Strait.

However, he said it needed state and federal approval as well as regulations that did not currently exist.

“Our development can be ready in six years and power up to one million homes,” Sawyer said.

“But we need the federal and state governments to work together to deliver a streamlined regulatory framework and staff up their departments to deal with this so we can get on with the job.”