Arabic version: مشروعات طاقة الرياح في كوينزلاند تواجه تأخيرات في البناء

According to ABC News, Queensland holds half of Australia’s proposed onshore wind capacity, with $5.8 billion in projects that have secured funding or begun construction. The state has 543 operational turbines across 10 wind farms, while 17 further projects are approved or under construction.

If every approved project proceeds, Queensland’s turbine count could rise to 1,383. State treasury figures indicate installed wind capacity could reach about one-and-a-half times existing coal-fired power capacity. However, Queensland has the nation’s longest average completion time for onshore wind projects, at about three years.

Former Origin Energy executive and Grattan Institute senior fellow Tony Wood cited community concern, policy uncertainty, slow transmission development and rising construction costs as factors slowing progress. Cattle farmer Glen Franz, whose property north of Dalby is near about 13 turbines, said wind power had a place but should not be located too close to built-up areas.

The Crisafulli government has introduced requirements for wind and solar developers to complete social impact assessments and obtain community benefit agreements. It also cancelled the Moonlight Range and Forest Wind projects, which together had the potential to power about 760,000 homes. Treasurer and Energy Minister David Janetzki said the government encouraged private investment under an Energy Roadmap focused on “economics and engineering over ideology”.

Central Queensland has seven approved wind projects, the largest regional pipeline, while the Western Downs and South West has 249 operating turbines. The 923MW MacIntyre Wind Farm near Warwick can generate enough electricity for about 620,000 homes. Queensland Renewable Energy Council chief executive Katie-Anne Mulder said developers must earn community trust and warned that policy uncertainty could put billions of dollars in private investment at risk.