Squadron turns sod on USD-2bn wind-solar-storage hub in Queensland

Australia’s Squadron Energy, backed by iron ore billionaire Andrew Forrest, on Wednesday officially launched the construction of a wind farm that will form part of the 1.2-GW Clarke Creek hybrid renewable energy complex in Queensland.

The huge project located 150 km northwest will consist of up to 800 MW of wind, 400 MW of solar and some energy storage capacity to create a hub that the developer says would be the largest renewable energy precinct in the southern hemisphere. It will span 76,300 ha (188,500 acres) across eight private landholdings.

The first phase of the AUD-3-billion (USD 2.05bn/EUR 2bn) scheme involves the installation of 100 wind turbines with a combined capacity of around 450 MW. Most of their output, coming from 346.5 MW of capacity, is contracted by Queensland government-owned Stanwell Corp under a 346.5-MW power purchase agreement (PPA). Stage One’s commissioning will take place by 2025.

As previously announced, the 350-MW second phase of the project is set to go live in 2026.

Once fully operational, the Clarke Creek renewable energy complex is expected to produce electricity for over 660,000 homes per year. It will export low-cost electricity directly into the National Electricity Market.

(AUD 1.0 = USD 0.682/EUR 0.668)

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