Queensland is inching closer to becoming a big name in the wind power industry. It was recently announced by the state government that one of the biggest onshore wind projects in the world will be built in the Southern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone.
Setting the landscape for better renewable energy in the state
The 1GW project, Herries Range Wind Farm, will be developed by Acciona and will be within the MacIntyre Wind Precinct. With the new construction, the precinct will have an overall generation capacity of 2,000 MW.
The new project is a $4 billion investment in the Queensland wind precinct. Queensland premier Annastacia Palasczuk said at a press conference, “We are massively changing from a coal-fired power state… to a renewable energy future, and Queenslanders back that.”
The extra $2 billion commitment of Acciona Energia is a representation that the state is being seen as a renewable energy superpower.
“This deal also demonstrates that our bold vision to deliver an energy system that is made up of 70 per cent renewable energy by 2032 has boosted investor interest,” Palaszczuk said.
The biggest power station in Queensland
The addition of Herries Range in the precinct will turn it into the biggest power station in the state, which comes close to the biggest coal-fired power station with a capacity of 1400MW. That said, it will generate four times much power that will generate energy for more homes, putting QLD closer to achieving its renewable energy goals.
A better economy
Aside from the power that Herries Range will generate, the project will also help the economy by producing more jobs during construction. The state government also has plans to manufacture wind turbines in the state in a few years.
The path to rebuilding
The construction comes at a perfect time with the latest report of the Climate Council that revealed the state suffered the most economic damage from natural disasters.
As the climate continues to change, the state will be exposed to various weather conditions and elements that may compromise communities. Currently, the government is rebuilding communities that were affected by floods. Now, with the Herries Range Wind Farm, QLD will be more equipped to reduce emissions.
QLD’s coal production and renewable energy
The report also showed that QLD is the state that produces the most coal. Unfortunately, there is no better alternative yet to coal that can be used as wind turbines are manufactured using coal.
Still, the QLD government is motivated to make an effort to decarbonise the economy responsibly. However, climate campaigners said that the government should not “walk both sides of the street on climate change and fossil fuels.”
Therefore, there needs to be a total detachment from coal, as many believe this is the key to making the state thrive.
Scott Stewart, the state’s resources minister, said there was “still a future for coal in Queensland.” He said, “Currently, there is no other commercially viable way to create steel, which we need not only for construction but also to create wind turbines and renewable infrastructure.”
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