The Federal government has approved a new 166MW wind farm and battery storage project to be located in Queensland’s North Burnett region, around 300kms north of Brisbane.
The 166MW Stony Creek Wind Farm is set to be built by Greenleaf Renewables – in partnership with Spain’s Enerfin – on mostly grazing land about 11 kilometres west of Biggenden, in Wakka Wakka country.
The project will consist of up to 23 wind turbines with hub heights of up to 260 metres. The size of the battery component has not been revealed.
It has received EPBC approval from the Federal government’s department of climate change, energy, the environment and water (DCCEEW) and now expects to begin construction in late 2024 or early 2025.
The DCCEEW said the project was allowed to proceed with strict conditions to protect native animals like the greater glider and koala, and to minimise the impact on potential habitat.
Greenleaf is also seeking to develop another two wind projects in Queensland, including the 450 MW Moonlight Range wind farm which is developing in partnership with Brookfield Renewables, part of the giant asset manager whose $20 billion bid for Origin Energy was voted down by a minority of shareholders last week.
The federal government described the approval as another big step in the plan to make Australia a renewable energy superpower.
“Years of political fights over climate change have cost Australia big time,” said Tanya Plibersek, Federal Labor minister for the environment and water.
“It meant emissions were higher for longer. It put renewable energy projects years behind.
“We want to unlock Australia’s potential to be a world leader in renewable energy. It’s a huge task – we’re remaking our entire energy system.
“Our government has shown just how bright Australia’s future can be when there’s less political fighting and more action on climate change.”
