Queensland pledges to make its own wind turbines amid boom in giga-scale projects

Queensland’s Labor government has announced plans to establish a wind turbine manufacturing industry in the state within the next “few years,” as it gears up to build the biggest wind power precinct in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Palaszczuk government’s plan to manufacture and supply wind turbine parts locally was announced on Monday at the unveiling of a new 1GW wind project proposed for Queensland’s Western Downs region.

The new $2 billion, 180-turbine Herries Range Wind Farm is being proposed for construction by Spanish giant Acciona Energía alongside the 1GW MacIntyre wind farm, which is currently under construction, also by Acciona.

The two huge wind projects will combine with the 100MW government-owned Karara wind farm to make up the huge MacIntyre Precinct of around 2,000MW (2GW). More details of that project here.

Plans underway to establish local supply chains

Speaking in front of a boatload of massive turbine blades headed for the MacIntyre project – and shipped to Australia from India, where they were made – Queensland energy minister Mick de Brenni said plans were underway to start making them locally.

“We’re still seeing a lot of [renewable energy components] being concentrated around places like China and India… and that’s why the premier has asked both the Deputy Premier and I to work with Queensland industry to set up manufacturing here in Australia,” he said.

“There’s incredible value that can be obtained for Queenslanders… if we’re able to manufacture these components here and I’m proud to be working alongside the Premier and treasurer and Deputy Premier and Queensland industry to establish those supply chains here locally.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk flanked by Acciona’s Brett Wickam (left) and energy minister Mike de Brenni (centre right).

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says that while it will take “a few years” to scale up, the state has a plan to set up local wind turbine manufacturing, and will now seek the investment to go with that plan.

‘We’re determined to do it’

“I want to see manufacturing here,” the premier said on Monday. “We need to build that capacity to actually build these turbines here in Queensland for the next few years.

“Queensland wants products made in Queensland, and we’re determined to do it. So, like I said, it will take a few years to scale it up, but … we’ve got the plan, and now we will get the investment to go with that plan.”

Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles says a “manufacturing opportunities prospectus” issued alongside the government’s Energy and Jobs Plan has seen more than 230 companies express an interest in establishing or expanding their manufacturing projects in Queensland.

A spokesperson from Acciona told RenewEconomy that it was happy to be part of discussions with the Palaszczuk government “to see what we can manufacture or assemble” in Queensland.

“We’ve already shown our commitment to local procurement with $500 million of MacIntyre’s $2 billion being sourced from Queensland businesses,” the spokesperson said.

Wind manufacturing blows hot and cold in Australia

Currently in Australia, local manufacturing extends only as far as the production of some wind turbine towers in Victoria, after early attempts to build other components were snuffed out when the then Howard government killed the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target.

But as David Leitch wrote here on RenewEconomy recently, Australia makes surfboards and there should be no reason it doesn’t make wind turbine blades.

In Western Australia, the Labor government has commissioned a full feasibility study to set up turbine manufacturing in the state, following a pre-feasibility study last year.

The previous study said a turbine manufacturing hub would need government support to get off the ground, and suggested establishing a site at an existing industrial hub such as Henderson or Bunbury, and financial assistance with buying specialist equipment.

Iron ore billionaire Andrew Forrest has also canvassed manufacturing wind components at the new Green Manufacturing Centre near Gladstone, which will begin with hydrogen electrolysers but could also be used to expand into solar, wind, and battery technologies.

Forrest has his own plans for multi-gigawatt scale renewable projects, centred around the first stage of the Clarke’s Creek facility now under construction, and for a new 10GW precinct in north Queensland.