Transmission company signs connection deal for 252MW wind project in new REZ

Queensland transmission company Powerlink has signed a connection agreement for the the first 252MW stage of the Wambo wind farm that will form the basis of a new renewable energy zone in the Western Downs region of Queensland.

The agreement between Powerlink and the Wambo wind farm developers Cubico and Stanwell means that the first stage of what could end up being a 500MW project will start construction in the next few months.

Powerlink will build a 50km power line to connect the project – which may also include a 40MW/200MWh big battery – to the Halys substation near Kingaroy.

The Wambo project was orginally expected to be breaking ground in 2021, but Cubico, the UK investor behind the project, Cubico, said last week it now expects to start construction in the second quarter this year and have it finished in late 2025.

The first stage will see the construction of 42 of Vestas’ V162-6.0 MW turbines. The second stage will depend on grid availability and feasibility studies.

Critical connection

The wind farm is part of Queensland’s 2000 MW Southern Renewable Energy Zone in the Western Downs, and has strong backing from the state government which gave Stanwell Energy $192.5 million in March to pay for its share of the first stage of construction.

Cubico and Renewable Energy Partners (REP) are developing Wambo as a 50:50 joint venture with government-owned Stanwell.

Cubico country head David Smith says joint ventures are “a key component of our growth strategy”.

“Stanwell has a similar long-term outlook to Cubico and many complementary skills that will be used to benefit stage 1 of the Wambo Wind Farm. We have also worked closely with Powerlink on the grid connection and appreciate their strong support for the project,” he said in a statement.

The wind farm is part of Queensland’s 2000 MW Southern Renewable Energy Zone in the Western Downs, and has strong backing from the state government which gave Stanwell Energy $192.5 million in March to pay for its share of the first stage of construction.

Cubico and Renewable Energy Partners (REP) are developing Wambo as a 50:50 joint venture with government-owned Stanwell.

Cubico country head David Smith says joint ventures are “a key component of our growth strategy”.

“Stanwell has a similar long-term outlook to Cubico and many complementary skills that will be used to benefit stage 1 of the Wambo Wind Farm. We have also worked closely with Powerlink on the grid connection and appreciate their strong support for the project,” he said in a statement.

Beefing up the network

Developments in the Western Downs REZ to date include AGL’s operational 453 MW Coopers Gap wind farm and the MacIntyre Wind Precinct, which itself includes the $2 billion, 180-turbine, 1000 MW Herries Range Wind Farm, the 923 MW MacIntyre wind farm, and the government-owned energy company CleanCo’s proposed 100MW Karara Wind Farm.

In March last year, Powerlink received $160 million to pay for transmission infrastructure to connect the potentially 2000MW MacIntyre wind precinct to the grid.

“We’re excited to see the Western Downs REZ taking shape and look forward to continuing to build on our strong working relationship with both Stanwell and Cubico,” Powerlink CEO Paul Simshauser in a statement.

Grid congestion in the rising renewable energy hub is not as bad as that seen in NSW, according to research by Australian National University. The region’s one operational wind farm saw minimal curtailment of its output by the market regulator, but solar farms saw their output cut between 1-10 per cent, the research showed.

The Western Downs is a popular place for new big batteries as well, with Blackrock’s Akaysha proposing to build the 150MW, 300MWh Ulinda Park battery next to the Kogan Creek coal generator and Neoen installing a 200MW/400MWh battery at the 400MW Western Downs Solar Farm.