Andrew Forrest’s Squadron Energy dumps underground lines in bid to get green tick for huge wind farm

Squadron Energy is shifting parts of its proposed 700 megawatt (MW) Spicers Creek wind project out of higher biodiversity areas to try to get the huge project through the federal environmental approvals process.

The wind farm, in New South Wales’ (NSW) Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), is manoeuvring to meet federal environmental strictures and get an EPBC tick of approval.

“While the key components of the project have not changed, a number of refinements have been incorporated into the project design,” Squadron, owned by iron ore billionaire Andrew Forrest, said in its request for a variation to the EPBC. 

“Squadron Energy has redesigned the project to focus on locating as much of the infrastructure and temporary construction areas within lands of lower biodiversity value.

“This has resulted in avoidance of clearing native vegetation with high ecological value.”

The changes include removing unnecessary access tracks that connect turbines and a section of underground power lines, and narrowing the amount of land area that tracks and power lines take up. 

The project still includes up to 117 turbines with a maximum tip height of 256 metres high, and a 400 MW battery energy storage system (BESS). The whole project is set to be connected to the proposed Cental-West Orana REZ transmission line and Squadron is investing about $2 billion into the 40-month-long development.

Squadron says 82 per cent of the development footprint is on land with lower biodiversity value than trees. It says in the bush areas turbines have been located in clearings lower down the hillside rather than in heavily treed areas on ridge lines. 

The Spicers Creek project was born in 2019 and Squadron started its EBPC application in late 2022 and entered the queue for ministerial approval in January 2023. 

More recently, it was also referred to the NSW Independent Planning Commission, in August. 

The referral came after 57 submissions were lodged against the project, Squadron made a reportable political donation, and after an objection by the Warrumbungle Shire Council. 

Of the objectors, 35 lived more than 50km from the project. All seven of the parties who made submissions in favour of the development live within 5km. 

In addition to the CPI-indexed community benefits scheme, Squadron is offering people who live locally to the wind farm an opportunity to invest in the project, with a minimum buy-in of $1000 and a maximum of $20,000. It is promising 7 per cent annual returns for ten years, after which the investor receives their capital back. 

ASX-listed DomaCom, a company that specialises in fractional ownership, is handling the fund, after rolling out a similar facility for the Sapphire wind farm in 2019. 

The Orana fund will require a $1 million minimum to get up and a maximum of $5 million; it opened last week to investors and will include future Squadron Energy projects in the REZ.