One of Queensland’s largest wind farms, Mt Emerald Wind Farm, has been officially opened 50 kilometres south west of Cairns.
The Mt Emerald Wind Farm is to supply 500 million kilowatt hours of renewable electricity every year, which is reportedly enough to power 80,000 homes a year, or the equivalent to supplying about one third of Far North Queensland’s energy needs.
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk the $400 million project involving 53 turbines was part of the renewable energy boom happening in Queensland.
“Queensland has more than 2400 megawatts of large‑scale renewable energy capacity operating already. Almost 900 megawatts more of large-scale renewable capacity is currently financially committed or under construction,” Palaszczuk said.
“Together, these projects represent more than $5 billion in capital investment and more than 4500 constructions jobs in regional Queensland.”
The wind farm, owned and operated by RATCH-Australia has a long-term contract to supply electricity to Ergon Retail and is connected to the electricity grid via a new substation owned and built by Queensland’s publicly-owned transmission operator, Powerlink.
Anthony Yeates from RATCH-Australia said the wind farm would generate a significant quantity of safe, clean, renewable electricity for North Queensland,” he said.
“We’re thrilled with the way local people have embraced the wind farm and look forward to the project contributing to Queensland’s energy transition for many years to come,” he said.