Rare, state-owned wind farm clears one of “most complex” grid connection hurdles

Résumé détaillé

One of few wind projects to have survived state government's call-in and sell-off era passes significant new development milestone, this time in grid integration.

The Lotus Creek wind farm in central Queensland – one of few wind projects to have survived the LNP government’s call-in and sell-off era – has notched up a significant new development milestone, this time in the grid integration department.

The 285 megawatt (MW) project, which remains 100 per cent owned by state utility CS Energy, has this week achieved “Grid R1 approval,” according to Danish wind giant Vestas, which is part of the consortium of companies contracted to build and operate the project.

Grid R1 approval is an “important stage in the [Australian energy Market Operator] registration process that confirms the wind farm’s design meets critical grid performance requirements under Australia’s National Electricity Rules,” Vestas said on LinkedIn on Tuesday.

“This achievement reflects the dedication and expertise of our grid integration, power systems and engineering teams… and partners to navigate one of the most complex aspects of renewable energy project delivery: connecting new generation reliably and securely to the electricity network.”

CS Energy bought the $1.3 billion project from Danish renewables giant Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners in August 2024, under the former Labor government’s Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.

Just a few months later, the LNP won the state election and has since taken Queensland in a starkly different direction on energy policy, dumping its renewable energy targets, pledging to keep coal plants running longer, and raising the bar for wind and battery projects to get (and keep) planning approval.

Under the LNP, the state-owned CleanCo has backed out of a deal to take a stake in the 360 MW Moah Creek wind project, although it may sign a deal to buy the output.

And CS Energy in July quietly sold off its half-share in one of the few wind projects under construction in Queensland, the Boulder Creek wind farm, as part of a series of LNP-led retreats from equity positions in key renewable projects.

And despite rumours it is looking to do…

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