The Western Downs green power hub planned by French renewable giant Neoen has received council approval for a solar farm of size up to 500MW. This impressive project promises to bring North Queensland solar jobs and continue the large-scale solar revolution in Queensland and Australia.
The Western Downs green power hub
The Western Downs green power hub will be located 22km south of Chinchilla and 62km north west of Dalby, according to RenewEconomy. No word on the specifics of the gear they will use, but a huge 1500 hectares of ground mounted solar panels will feed two hectares of battery energy storage. This is going to be a gigantic undertaking.
According to the website for the green power hub, they’ll produce around 1.05MWh (million megawatt hours) per year.
“A combination of an ambitious Queensland Renewable Energy Target and a proactive government to meet those targets provide highly favourable conditions for renewable energy projects in the State,” Neoen says on the website.
“Consequently, the company will expedite the development of Western Downs Green Power Hub, as well as several other projects in Queensland.”
Construction was initially slated to commence in Q3 this year but it now looks like mid a 2019 start date will be more likely, according to the website.
“Construction is expected to start mid 2019 providing employment opportunities for the region.”
An article from the Chronicle in September last year (when it was being touted as a 250MW solar plant) noted that the consturction phase of the project will generate up to 300 solar jobs and between two to four during regular usage.
Neoen have been responsible for a number of huge projects across Australia recently:
- A $25m Electrolyser ‘Hydrogen Superhub’ will be built in Crystal Brook, South Australia.
- $25m for Tesla Powerpack Battery Power in regional Victoria.
- The Bulgana Green Power Hub.
- …and of course the historic Tesla Powerpack at Hornsdale wind farm in South Australia.
