The $740 million Boulder Creek Wind Farm has reached financial close, with CS Energy securing a 50 per cent stake in the project.
The 228MW wind farm will be located 40km south-west of Rockhampton, and construction is scheduled to commence in November 2024.
CS Energy will co-own the Boulder Creek Wind Farm in a joint venture with Aula Energy and will hold the rights to 100 per cent of its generation output through a 20-year power purchase agreement.
The wind farm will consist of 38 GE Vernova wind turbines and will produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of more than 85,000 homes when it becomes operational in 2027.
The project adds to CS Energy’s growing renewable energy and firming portfolio and follows the recent announcement of its 100 per cent acquisition of the Lotus Creek Wind Farm near St Lawrence.
CS Energy CEO, Darren Busine, said, “The Boulder Creek Wind Farm supports the continued demand for renewable energy from CS Energy’s large commercial and industrial retail customers.
“CS Energy’s investment in this project demonstrates our ongoing commitment to central Queensland and providing opportunities for our people and local communities to share the benefits of the energy transformation.
“With Callide Power Station located approximately 110km away, CS Energy will investigate training pathways for our employees to provide maintenance services at the wind farm.”
Aula Energy CEO, Chad Hymas, said, “We are extremely pleased to be working with CS Energy on the Boulder Creek Wind Farm, which will be Aula Energy’s flagship project in Australia.
“The CS Energy and Aula teams will build on the exceptional collaboration over the development phase to deliver a project that contributes to the decarbonisation of Queensland generation while delivering for the local community. We look forward to a long-term partnership with CS Energy as both a joint owner and an offtaker.”
The Queensland Government has committed $399.7 million towards the project to date, which includes $174.3 million in FY2025 from the Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund.
CS Energy expects the wind farm to provide an economic boost to the region by supporting up to 250 jobs during construction, and the project continues to seek applications from local businesses and individuals who would like to be involved.
The wind farm will be developed on pastoral land that is predominantly used for cattle grazing that will continue during the construction and operations phases of the project.
The project has secured all necessary Federal and State government approvals and is subject to a range of conditions, including securing an environmental offset area of 1215ha. Agreements are in place with host landholders and Traditional Owners the Gaangalu Nation and Darumbal peoples.
Featured image: CS Energy.
