The Queensland government have proposed a Hybrid Power Project (NWQHPP) for the North West, which will generate new technology construction jobs in the Mount Isa region.
The project will centre on building what could be Australia’s largest hybrid generator which will generate 50 megawatts of cleaner, cheaper energy.
“The Queensland government is supportive of new clean energy innovation on the path to our 50 per cent renewable energy target,” Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said.
“That’s why our publicly owned generator Stanwell is partnering with Vast Solar to develop feasibility options for electrifying the resources sector with dispatchable, low-cost, reliable clean energy.”
“The development of the proposed NWQHPP will need a highly–skilled workforce during the two-year build and dozens of permanent skilled jobs over the 30-year life of the plant. Importantly the proposed project will align to the government’s Buy Queensland procurement approach, meeting the highest standards around local content, local workforce and decent wages and conditions,” Brenni said.
“It will demonstrate how renewables can provide continuous energy to power large industrial and resource businesses in the North West, because that ultimately means more Queensland jobs.”
Vast Solar CEO Craig Wood said the Hybrid Power Project is also calling for expressions of interest from contractors across a range of workstreams.
“This is another significant milestone as we work through the feasibility study and get closer to turning soil on site,” Wood said. “We are looking forward to hearing from a range of contractors who will be critical in bringing this project to life.
“Building the plant will require collaboration between local, regional and national experts from a range of fields and will involve hundreds of workers from Mount Isa and the surrounding area. We’re ensuring the project is developed in conjunction with local contractors and government wherever possible.”
Vast Solar and Stanwell have also announced a joint development agreement in March regarding the $10 million feasibility study for the project, expected to be completed in late 2021. This is one of the milestones necessary to reach a final investment decision and project approval.
Mount Isa could potentially begin to benefit from low cost, clean and reliable energy from 2023 as part of a staggered construction program which would bring elements of the hybrid power plant into operations earlier.