384 MW PPA signed for 800 MW wind farm in Australia

Stanwell Corporation, a Queensland Government-owned company, has signed a 348 MW Power Purchase Agreement for the 450 MW first stage of the 800 MW Clarke Creek Wind Farm.

The 800 MW wind scheme, part of the bigger Clarke Creek Wind and Solar Farm project, will be located 150 kilometers northwest of Rockhampton and 150 kilometers south of Mackay in the Isaac and Livingstone Shire council areas. The development is estimated to cost at over AUD 1.5 billion (US$ 1.08 billion).

The first stage of the wind farm has been planned based on using 101 Goldwind wind turbines, with a 348 MW section of the project supplying Stanwell under the Power Purchase Agreement. Once built, the 450 MW phase will power the equivalent of approximately 320,000 Queensland homes.

Lacour Energy and Goldwind who have together developed the project launched the Local Business Participation Program for the project in December 2018. This Program is a key initiative to identify capability in the local community and maximize opportunities for local subcontractors and suppliers to participate in the project. The Industry Capability Network (ICN) gateway has been utilized to start engagement with local businesses with over 700 registrations to date. About 350 people are expected to be employed during construction.

Mark Rayner, Director of Lacour Energy, said: “The PPA with Stanwell Corporation will allow the final steps in the development phase of the Clarke Creek Wind Farm to be completed so that construction can start in 2021. The project represents an excellent combination of strong, predominantly night-time wind to complement Queensland solar production. The project’s location is on the backbone of Powerlink’s high voltage transmission network and the project scale will make a large contribution to Queensland’s renewable energy target. Lacour Energy looks forward to continuing to work with all local stakeholders as we move to prepare for the construction of the first stage of the project.”

The Clarke Creek Wind and Solar Farm project has received necessary State and Federal Government approvals to develop up to 195 wind turbines with a power output over 800 MW, between 200 MW and 400 MW of solar power, and battery energy storage.