QLD jobs to be supported through delivery of 180MW Dulacca Wind Farm

Queensland will soon welcome the development of a new wind farm, which is set to generate 180MW of renewable energy and create about 150 construction jobs in regional Queensland. 

CleanCo Queensland has signed a Power Purchase Agreement to take power from the proposed Dulacca Renewable Energy Project. 

“Power Purchase Agreements like this one mean we can offer competitively priced energy contracts supported by renewables and our fleet of low-emissions firming generation, guaranteeing supply day and night. 

“The benefits of these agreements are far-reaching – our customers meet their sustainability targets at a competitive cost, helping them to remain in a decarbonising world, and in turn we help Queensland meet our State emissions targets,” CleanCo CEO Dr Maia Schweizer said. 

Not only will this new wind farm bring construction jobs to the Western Downs, but the project is also expected to “lure manufacturers to the state” and help decarbonise the economy as well as create more jobs for Queenslanders as part of the State Government’s COVID-19 economic recovery plan. 

“We know it’s important to ensure the jobs in the construction of this project are decent jobs, with a focus on locals and our Buy QLD procurement rules make sure of that. 

“CleanCo has committed take 70 per cent or 126MW from the Dulacca Wind Farm, adding to the impressive 980MW of renewable energy CleanCo has already committed to bring to market over the next three years, bringing the total to more than 1 gigawatt (GW). 

“When operational, this Dulacca Wind Farm will be able to power more than 120,000 Queensland homes,” Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said. 

Octopus Australia has recently acquired the Dulacca Wind Farm from RES. While Octopus Australia will own the renewable energy project, RES will continue to support its development by managing the engineering, procurement and construction works as well as grid connection contracts throughout the AEMO registration process. 

“Octopus is also looking forward to forging a new long-term relationship with CleanCo as our PPA partner. There is great alignment among the parties with CleanCo, RES and Vestas also sharing our long-term commitment to the community and helping Australia meet our renewable energy targets,” Octopus Australia’s Investment Director and lead on Dulacca Darren Brown said. 

In addition to the 150 onsite construction jobs, about 700-800 people are anticipated to directly support the projected 2-year construction period of the Dulacca Wind Farm along with the creation of indirect opportunities throughout the local supply chain. 

Once up and running, the wind farm will require 5-10 permanent operational jobs over its 30-year life. 

“We are very excited about seeing this project come to life and seeing the creation of opportunities for the local communities, including those through the creation of the community fund. We are pleased to be continuing our involvement in this outstanding project and we are looking forward to supporting our partners at Octopus in the construction and operation of the wind farm,” RES CEO in Australia Matt Rebbeck said. 

Project location (source: Dulacca Renewable Energy Project)

The Dulacca Wind Farm is going to be built approximately 350 kilometres north-west of Brisbane and the project will consist of 43 wind turbines with hard-standing areas and access roads. 

This project is also expected to include: 

• Operations and maintenance buildings with associated vehicle parking 
• An electrical substation 
• Overhead and underground electrical cable reticulation 
• Meteorological masts for measuring wind speed and other climatic conditions 
• Temporary construction facilities including a construction compound, borrow pit and concrete batching plant facilities 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Octopus Australia; Dulacca Renewable Energy Project; PV Magazine Australia