Page 24 - Tropic Magazine Issue 20

TROPIC • ENVIRONMENT

Energy boost

SPECIAL REPORT
Tropic’s deep dive into
the region’s renewable Desailly Renewable Forsayth Wind Farm
Where: Sirron Cattle Station between
energy projects. Energy Park Forsayth and Mt Surprise
Where: Just north-west of Mt
Carbine What: 25-30 wind turbines, storage
Words Renee Cluff unknown
What: Solar, storage and
Sun-drenched, wind-drenched and synchronous condenser for grid Planned output: 65MW-75MW
water-drenched Tropical North stability Developer: Australian company
Queensland is making the most of its Planned Output: 1,000MW Infigen Energy
abundant natural resources, with a Developer: UK company DP Energy Investment: $250 million
recent Climate Council report finding Investment: $2 billion Status:Proposed
the region is punching well above its Status: Proposed Chewko Solar Farm
weight when it comes to embracing Where: South-west of Mareeba
renewable energy projects. Kaban Green Power Hub What: 200,000 solar PV panels on 150
TNQ actually has a proud 60 year Where: Just north of Ravenshoe hectares
history in this area. The Kareeya What: 29 wind turbines and storage Planned output: 75MW
hydro-power station near Tully began Planned Output: 130MW Developer: Australian company Tilt
generating electricity in the 1950s, Developer: French company Neoen Renewables
followed by the Barron Gorge plant Investment: $300 million Investment: $100 million
in the 60s. For years, sugar mills have Status: Approved Status: Proposed
been producing bioenergy, while the
first wind farm in Queensland was
built at Windy Hill, near Ravenshoe. Archer Point Wind Farm Mareeba Solar farm
More recently we’ve adopted solar, Where: Just south of Cooktown Where: Just north of Mareeba
with the country’s first large-scale What: 60 wind turbines What: 196,000 solar PV panels on 110
solar and storage plant connected to Planned output: 120MW hectares
the grid at Lakeland. We’re also home Developer: Australian company Planned output: 60MW
to the state’s first large-scale wind Wind Power Queensland Developer: Australian company
farm, which was officially opened at Investment: $250 million CleanGen
Mount Emerald in August. Status: Proposed Investment: $100 million
But as this special Tropic report Status: Proposed
shows, there’s still more than $3 Lakeland Wind Farm
billion of potential renewable energy Where: 60 kilometres south-west of Cape York Solar Storage
investment in the region still to come. Cooktown Where: Lakeland
What: Up to 30 wind turbines What: Solar farm, battery storage
Planned output: 100MW Planned output: 55 MW
Developer: Australian company Developer: Australian based Lyon
Windlab Group
Investment:$200 million Investment: $150 million
Status: Proposed Status: Proposed

High Road Wind Farm
Where: Evelyn, just north of
1 Ravenshoe
1. Mount Emerald Wind Farm What: 17 wind turbines
2. Lakeland Solar and Storage Planned output: 80MW
3. Kareeya Hydro Power Station Developer: RATCH-Australia
4. Barron Gorge Hydro Station
Investment: $90 million
Status: Proposed
2

24 • Tropic • Issue 20