In a major milestone for the ongoing 157MW wind farm project, the $373 million Kaban Green Power Hub has been connected to the recently announced Queensland SuperGrid.
The Kaban Green Power Hub is part of the Northern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone in the state’s Far North region and supports 250 jobs.
The project is being developed by global green energy giant Neoen, and publicly owned CleanCo has an agreement to purchase 100 per cent of the clean energy generated.
The 28 wind turbines, to be constructed on site, will reach 230m in height to fully capture the site’s high wind potential once completed.
Publicly owned low-emissions energy generator and retailer CleanCo will use 100 per cent of the clean electricity produced at the Kaban Green Power Hub.
Neoen Managing Director, Louis de Sambucy, said the business was extremely proud of Kaban’s role as the cornerstone project of Queensland’s first Renewable Energy Zone, and was delighted to have reached this important milestone of first energisation.
“I’d like to thank the Queensland Government and CleanCo for their vision and support, and Powerlink for their hard work and commitment in delivering the essential transmission infrastructure,” Mr de Sambucy said.
Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszcuck, said the 157MW project can now power homes and businesses in the Far North with clean green renewable energy.
“The Kaban Green Power Hub being energised via Powerlink’s Tumoulin Switching Station means clean energy is being injected into the new Queensland SuperGrid,” Ms Palaszcuck said.
“Construction of the project is now past the halfway mark with 16 of the 28 turbines complete.
“Once complete early next year, it will generate 460,000MW/h of clean energy a year, enough to power up to 100,000 homes.”
The Premier said the project would play an important role in helping Queensland meet its new renewable energy target of 70 per cent by 2032.
“As part of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, we are bringing more renewable energy into the network through projects like the Kaban Green Power Hub, delivering cleaner, cheaper energy to Queenslanders,” the Premier said.
“Our recently released Queensland Energy and Jobs plan maps out how we will unlock even more renewable energy, and unleash 100,000 new good jobs across the state, mostly in regional Queensland.”
Queensland’s Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni, said the Government was investing $700 million in North Queensland’s transmission network over the next five years to bring more clean energy into the system.
“This new transmission infrastructure will be delivered by Powerlink and will unlock an additional 500MW of renewables capacity in the region,” Mr de Brenni said.
“Projects like this enable the cost-effective connection of multiple renewable energy developments into the network, making it easier to bring more clean energy to the system.
“Key to the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan is leveraging the public ownership of our energy-businesses to drive investment in large-scale generation, transmission and storage infrastructure – and that is exactly what this project is helping deliver.”
