Forrest-backed wind farm hits half-way mark as turbine number 50 goes up

Turbine number 50 has been installed at what will be one of the biggest wind farms in Queensland, at least for a time; the 450 megawatt (MW) Clarke Creek project being built in central Queensland by Andrew Forrest’s Squadron Energy.

The milestone marks the half-way point for construction of the massive wind project, which is the first stage of a multi-gigawatt renewable precinct being built by Squadron, which is owned by the Forrest family’s investment vehicle, Tattarang.

“A great visit to Squadron Energy’s Clarke Creek Wind Farm, which has successfully installed the 50th wind turbine, marking the halfway point of turbine installation on the 450MW project,” Tattarang CEO John Hartman wrote on LinkedIn on Monday.

“This is a significant milestone for Tattarang as we pursue our mission to help transform Australia’s energy sector,”Hartman said.

Squadron Energy CEO Rob Wheals said in a separate statement that there were more than 15 Queensland businesses actively contributing to the Clarke Creek project, showcasing the collaborative effort that has been driving the state’s energy transition.

“I’d like to thank the BKY Traditional Owners, our delivery partners including Goldwind, our landowners, the onsite team and the local community – all who have contributed to make this milestone a reality.”

Clarke Creek Wind Farm has also recently completed generation registration with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).

When fully complete, stage one of Clarke Creek will produce enough electricity to power around 330,000 Queensland homes and avoid 738,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

More than 75 per cent of the wind energy generated from the project is contracted to Queensland government owned gentailer, Stanwell Corporation, through a 15-year power purchase agreement.

“This agreement ensures Stanwell continues to build our renewable generation portfolio as we renew our energy portfolio,” Stanwell CEO Michael O’Rourke said on Monday.

“After helping to turn the sod, kicking off construction two years ago, it’s great to be back at Clarke Creek Wind Farm to celebrate this milestone moment with Squadron Energy.”

Elsewhere in Queensland, Squadron is developing a wind and battery project on cattle gazing land in south-west of Ingham, the 400MW wind component of which was given federal environmental approval in June.