Half of Australia's windfarm pipeline is in slowest-building state

Detailed summary

Queensland holds half of Australia's proposed onshore wind capacity, but policy and community challenges are making it the slowest state to build the projects.

Queensland has 543 operational wind turbines, which could increase to 1,383 thanks to 17 more projects in the pipeline.

However, community opposition, rising construction costs and government policy changes are making it the slowest state in which to build wind projects.

Experts and industry warn Queensland risks losing billions in private investment without greater certainty.

Most Queenslanders will not see any of the state's 543 wind turbines on their daily commute, despite the towers reaching 247 metres into the air.

You have to drive almost three hours out of Brisbane to rural areas to see one, and there are plenty more in the development pipeline.

Queensland now accounts for half of Australia's proposed onshore wind power capacity, with $5.8 billion worth of projects securing necessary funding or starting construction, according to the Clean Energy Council's latest report.

If all approved projects proceed, the state's installed wind capacity could become about one and a half times more than the existing coal-fired power capacity, state treasury figures show.

Queensland has the longest average onshore wind project completion time of any state, at about three years.

Experts have put this down to multiple factors including community opposition and planning uncertainty.

Opening of the article, excerpted from ABC Business. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.