Transmission line with 165 towers completed to connect Australia’s biggest wind project

Queensland government owned transmission company Powerlink says it has completed construction on a new 65 km 330 kV transmission line, including 165 towers, that will connect Australia’s largest wind project in southern Queensland.

The new transmission line, which also includes two switching stations will connect the 923 MW Macintyre wind project being built by Acciona Energia, and which will be the biggest wind farm in the country, at least for a time.

The Macintyre wind project was to be a gigawatt scale facility but the withdrawal of CleanCo from the 102 MW Karara wind project in the same precinct has reduced its size. But Acciona has hopes of expanding it into a 2 GW renewable energy hub which the new transmission line allows for.

Powerlink says that the first wind turbines at MacIntyre are expected to start feeding into the grid in stages later this year as it begins the long process of testing and commissioning.

“This is a significant milestone on one of Powerlink’s flagship projects, with the MacIntyre Wind Farm being the first stage in our Southern Downs Renewable Energy Zone,” Powerlink CEO Paul Simshauser said in a statement.

Acciona Energia managing director Brett Wickham said the connection to the wind farm, which will also be the biggest in the southern hemisphere, is a major “milestone” and a key part of the state’s energy transition.

Queensland remains the state with the lowest penetration of renewable energy – it averaged just 28 per cent in the last 12 months – but currently leads all other states in terms of approvals and construction, and is aiming for 80 per cent renewables by 2035.

“Queensland is the place to be for renewable energy projects,” Wickham said. “With great policy, partners and plans Queensland leads the way in the energy transition creating jobs and developing regions in the process.”

The new transmission project comprised of 165 towers, each up to 60 metres tall, two switching stations, 125 km of fibre optic cable, and supported 220 construction jobs and engaged 11 local suppliers.