The 50:50 JV will build the proposed Kennedy Energy Park hybrid solar/wind plant in a phased approach which will cost around A$140m($102m).
Construction on the project near Hughenden, around 300km inland for Townsville, will begin within 12 months. Over 50 jobs will be created during construction phase.
Phase I of the project includes the installation of six turbines with a diameter 136m, as well as 64,000 solar panels, which will generate clean energy that will be enough to power over 25,000 Queensland homes with zero carbon emissions.
Currently, over 90% of Queensland’s electricity needs are generated by fossil fuels.
The 100MW phase I will be connected to the existing electricity grid.
Upon completion, the project will help to meet Queensland’s contribution to the national 2020 Renewable Energy Target. It is said to become the first large-scale hybrid solar and wind park in Australia.
Windlab CEO Roger Price said the Kennedy Energy Park was an ideal location and had been selected for its ‘world class’ solar irradiance and wind energy profile.
"In combination, these natural resources can provide a net capacity factor approaching 70%, better than "base load" coal utilisation in Queensland.
"This particular site has been carefully mapped and we know it is predominantly windy through the afternoon and into the evening, and obviously experiences sunlight during daylight hours. This resource profile ensures almost constant energy production.
"Coupled with state of the art grid storage Kennedy will be able to match North Queensland’s’ current energy demand profile more than 80% of the time," Price added.
Earlier this year, Windlab and Eurus signed a pact to build 20MW Coonooer Bridge Wind Farm in Victoria.
Windlab recently built the 207MW Collgar wind farm in Western Australia, with an estimated capacity factor of nearly 50%.
Image: Phase I of the project includes the installation of six turbines with a diameter 136m, as well as 64,000 solar panels. Photo: courtesy of kongsky / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
