Australia’s Windlab will partner with Eurus Energy Holdings Corp. to develop a A$140 million (US$101 million) combined wind and solar energy park in Queensland.
The Kennedy Energy Park plant is the first large scale hybrid solar/wind plant to be constructed in Australia. The first stage of the project will involve construction of six turbines spanning 136 metres in diameter — the largest ever seen in Australia. In tandem, 64,000 solar panels spread over 80 hectares will generate sufficient energy to supply more than 25,000 Queensland homes with zero carbon emissions.
At the moment, more than 90% of Queensland’s electricity needs are generated by fossil fuels. It is expected that successful completion of first stage development will pre-empt a major scale up in the project’s second stage, which will see 1,200 megawatts of renewable energy generation. This will provide enough renewable energy to meet much of Queensland’s contribution to the national 2020 Renewable Energy Target.
The Kennedy Park deal follows on from another deal struck between Windlab and Eurus earlier this year, with the parties committing to, and beginning construction on the Coonooer Bridge Wind Farm in Victoria. Construction of the Kennedy Park project is expected to begin after June next year.
