Acciona Energia’s construction of the MacIntyre Wind Precinct embodies Australia’s resurgent renewable energy sector. Numerous initiatives are in the works to broaden Australia’s range of energy resources, despite former Energy Minister Angus Taylor’s continued criticism from the sidelines. The newly elected federal government is contributing. Australia leads the globe in utility-scale solar farms and rooftop solar penetration, but it trails behind in wind energy production. Thus, there is a significant reliance on the combustion of fossil fuels in the evenings. This is getting more and more expensive in the current global energy situation, which is driving the demand for additional onshore wind generators.
There are two wind farms in the MacIntyre Wind Precinct. the 162 turbine MacIntyre Wind Farm, which will be owned and run by ACCIONA Energa, and the 18 turbine Karara Wind Farm, which is owned and operated by Queensland State Owned Enterprise CleanCo. The Precinct serves as an example of how massive renewable energy projects may generate hundreds of employment, billions in fresh investment, and new economic foundations in local communities. Nearly 2 billion Australian dollars are anticipated to be invested into the project by Acciona.
A sod-turning ceremony was held at the wind farm construction site in Queensland’s Southern Downs, 60 kilometers west of Warwick, to mark the official start of construction.
Over 450 direct jobs will be created by the MacIntyre Wind Precinct during construction, and Powerlink will support an additional 220 jobs to build the transmission infrastructure. The Precinct will directly employ 15 people to maintain the facility once it is operational in 2024. To further support local firms, the Precinct will procure $500 million in projects from Queensland vendors.
According to CleanCo Chair Jacqui Walters, this enormous MacIntyre project, which has the capacity to power the equivalent of nearly 700 000 homes, will significantly increase the supply of renewable energy in Queensland and help our industries, businesses, and communities achieve their sustainability goals.
According to Mr. Kim, CEO of Ark Energy, “we hope to expedite the decarbonization of our sister company’s zinc refinery in Townsville with our equity offtake from MacIntyre as part of their ambition to be one of the first large refineries in the world to manufacture green zinc.”
One of the biggest producers of lead, silver, and zinc worldwide is Ark Energy . According to Acciona, individuals worried about how wind farms could affect agricultural land should know this: On terrain that is primarily used for sheep farming, the MacIntyre Wind Farm will be built. During the wind farm’s development and operation, regular farming procedures will be followed. The location was chosen for the wind farm because it offers a good resource and is exposed to steady winds in this region of the country.
Precinct for the wind in MacIntyre. Thanks to Acciona Energa for the rendering.
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