The state government gave the green light for the company’s Kaban Green Power Hub in north Queensland, which could have a capacity of up to 160MW and battery storage of up to 100MW.
Neoen plans to begin construction in mid-2019, according to its website.
Kaban is Neoen’s third hybrid project incorporating wind power in Australia. It is building the 194MW Bulgana Green Energy Hub in Victoria, which will also comprise a 20MW/34MWh lithium-ion battery, while one phase of its 309MW Hornsdale wind complex is connected to a 100MW/129MWh battery, which is the largest in the world.
Neon has not yet arranged a preferred supplier for Kaban’s 29 wind turbines.
Minister for state development, manufacturing, infrastructure and planning, Cameron Dick, meanwhile, said each turbine at Kaban could have a maximum tip height of 240 metres and an output rating of up to 5.5MW, meaning the project would be up to 159.5MW.
Queensland has a target of sourcing 50% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, and in June 2017 announced it would invest A$1.16 billion ($875 million) towards improving its energy system.
It has just two small operational wind projects to date, according to Windpower Intelligence, the research and data division of Windpower Monthly.
But the state has approved developer Windlab’s plans for an up-to 1.2GW hybrid wind-solar-storage plant, and AGL’s plans for the 115-turbine, 453MW Cooper’s Gap site, which could become the country’s largest wind farm.
