• About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Events
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Contracts awarded
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Events
  • Features
  • Water
  • Wastewater
  • Gas
  • Electricity
  • Civil Construction
  • Events
No Results
View All Results
  • News
    • Contracts awarded
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Events
  • Features
  • Water
  • Wastewater
  • Gas
  • Electricity
  • Civil Construction
  • Events
No Results
View All Results
Home

Construction begins on Australia’s largest wind farm

by Utility Journalist
February 9, 2018
in Electricity, News, Projects, Wind
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The first sod has been turned at the almost $850 million Coopers Gap Wind Farm in Queensland’s Darling Downs.

The 453 megawatt (MW) Coopers Gap Wind Farm is about 250km west of Brisbane, and will produce approximately 1,510,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable energy annually. This is sufficient to power more than 260,000 average Australian homes when fully operational in mid-2019.

The renewable energy produced from the wind farm’s 123 turbines will also reduce CO2 emissions by 1,180,000 tonnes annually, the equivalent of taking 340,000 cars off the road.

Work has already started to connect the wind farm to the grid. Queensland’s high voltage transmission provider Powerlink is building a new 275kV substation at Cooranga North, with commissioning expected by the end of 2018.

Minister for Energy, Dr Anthony Lynham, said this is the second large-scale renewable project in the Western Downs to get underway.

“Coopers Gap will bring $850 million of investment, 200 construction jobs, and up to 20 ongoing operational jobs to the Western Downs.

“The Western Downs is fast becoming Australia’s renewable energy capital, with Coopers Gap and 10 approved solar projects.

“Together, they represent more than 2000MW of renewable energy that will help power Queensland’s electricity grid and its regional economies, and help us meet our international emissions reduction commitments.

“Combined, these projects would represent more than $5 billion of investment, and more than 3000 construction jobs for the Western Downs.”   

The project is also a coordinated project, a special status which allows the state’s independent Coordinator-General to use his powers to cut red tape and help deliver project.

Dr Lynham said ongoing private sector investment, like AGL’s, was concrete endorsement of Queensland’s renewable energy policy.

“Our 50 per cent renewable energy generation target by 2030 has encouraged an unprecedented level of renewable energy investment in 23 large-scale projects that are currently financially committed to or under construction right across the state.

“When complete, these projects will more than double Queensland’s renewable energy output and produce enough electricity to power around 987,000 homes.”

Related Posts

NEAC director, Stephen Craig with a Living Lab participant. Image: CSIRO

New CSIRO analysis centre powering energy transition 

by Katie Livingston
July 17, 2025

CSIRO has launched the National Energy Analysis Centre (NEAC), which aims to support, accelerate and de-risk Australia’s complex energy transition.  ...

Image: Rädlinger 

Saving water and emissions

by Katie Livingston
July 16, 2025

Water is a valuable resource, and this is especially true in times of increasing weather extremes, such as floods or...

Image: Programmed

Bringing culture and connection to remote sites

by Katie Livingston
July 16, 2025

Beyond service delivery, Programmed helps build environments that foster connection, and support workforce morale in remote operations.  At 29Metals’ Golden...

Read our magazine

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
Utility is the title of choice for decision makers at all levels of water and energy utilities, as well as other major players like consulting engineers and first-tier contractors. Utility is integrated across print and online, and explores the biggest news and issues across the utility industry. It is Australia’s only dedicated utility magazine, and covers all areas of the utility sector, including water and sewer, gas, electricity, communications and the NBN.

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Utility

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Digital magazine
  • Events
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Collection Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Popular Topics

  • News
  • Water
  • Electricity
  • Projects
  • Water and Wastewater Treatment
  • Spotlight
  • Civil Construction
  • Renewable Energy

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Contracts awarded
    • Open tenders and opportunities
    • Events
  • Features
  • Water
  • Wastewater
  • Gas
  • Electricity
  • Civil Construction
  • Events
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited