Ireland's DP Energy has unveiled plans for a major renewable energy development in North Queensland, featuring a 1.4GW wind farm and 2,000MWh battery storage system to be built south-east of Julia Creek.

Project Specifications and Infrastructure

The proposed Windy Plains Renewable Energy Park will feature approximately 197 wind turbines, each with a generating capacity of around 7MW. The development will include a co-located 500MW/2,000MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) integrated with the wind generation facility.

The project's power infrastructure will consist of one or more onsite substations designed to collect power generated from the turbines. This collected energy will be exported to the planned CopperString 330kV transmission line via a switch station, connecting the renewable energy park to the broader electricity grid.

Development Timeline and Current Status

The Windy Plains project has recently completed the feasibility stage and has now progressed to the assessment, consultation, and design phase. This next phase will involve detailed environmental, planning, and technical assessments to better understand the site and surrounding area. 

DP Energy will soon be undertaking community and stakeholder consultation as part of the development process. This consultation phase is intended to help shape the project design and guide the development of a Community Benefit Agreement with local communities.

Regulatory and Environmental Approvals

As the project advances, detailed field surveys and community consultation will inform the final design of the renewable energy park. The company will be pursuing approvals from both the Queensland Government and Commonwealth regulators as required for the development. 

The assessment phase will include comprehensive environmental studies and technical evaluations to ensure the project meets all regulatory requirements and environmental standards for the North Queensland location.

Operational Planning and Future Considerations

The Windy Plains Renewable Energy Park is planned to operate for approximately 30 years once construction is completed and the facility becomes operational. After this operational period, the turbines and associated infrastructure could be removed and the land reinstated to its original condition. 

Alternatively, at the end of the initial operational period, the site could be upgraded with new equipment, potentially extending the renewable energy generation capacity at the location for additional decades of clean energy production.