Flicker of hope as LNP allows first of four frozen wind projects to seek planning approval
The first of four huge wind projects frozen by the new Queensland LNP government earlier this year has been allowed to resume its passage through the state planning process.
It's a likely relief to the project's owners and its intended major customers, the Gladstone based smelters and refineries owned by Rio Tinto.
The 1.4GW Bungaban wind project near Wandoan is owned by Windlab, which is majority owned by iron ore magnate and green energy advocate Andrew Forrest’s Squadron Energy.
The project signed the biggest power purchase agreement in Australia to help power the Boyne Island smelter and Yarwun refinery, massive assets Rio Tinto says cannot survive without access to cheap renewable power.
Bungaban was one of four projects paused by the state government earlier this year as part of a review of the planning process, which it says was allowing major projects to go through with little scrutiny.
The new LNP government has not hidden its distaste for large wind farms, and has no intention of following the previous government's renewable energy targets of 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2035.
QLD is the state with the highest dependence on coal, and the lowest share of renewables (30% over the last 12 months), and it has recently pledged $1.5Bn to underwrite ongoing maintenance on the ageing coal fleet.
The Sunshine State has largely focused on solar power – both at household and utility level – but is also seen as a major wind resource because it is windy, and it usually blows at night.
The LNP government first intervened in January, when it “called in” the proposed 450 MW Moonlight Range wind project near Rockhampton.
The owners were required to make submissions to the government “about whether the proposed development qualifies as a state interest and should be re-assessed”, along with community and other interested parties.
Three other wind projects were also paused – Bungaban, RWE’s 1.1 GW Theodore wind project near Biloela, and another Windlab project, the 1.4 GW Wongalee wind project near Hughenden.
Brookfield and Greenleaf were given until the end of the week to make submissions about whether the proposed development qualifies as a state interest and should be re-assessed.