Queensland solar farm achieves environmental approval level – pv magazine Australia

September 19, 2024 Eva Foley

The proposed $650 million (US$439.1 million) 300MW Cambridge Solar Farm and battery storage project in north Queensland has received environmental approval from the Federal Government.

The 300MW solar farm, developed by Cambridge JMD Australia, the renewable energy arm of Singapore-based Cambridge RE Partners, is to be built as the first stage of the $1.7 billion North Queensland Renewable Energy Park, about 80km south of Townsville.

Once operational, the projected maximum generating capacity is expected to be 2 GW, of which 300 MW will be connected to the grid, enabling the future installation of a battery energy storage system (BESS).

The project is expected to generate approximately 2.48 TWh of clean energy per year, enough to power 123,000 Queensland homes and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 670,000 tonnes, which would be the equivalent of taking 228,000 cars off the road for a year.

Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Management Tanya Plibersek said she had completed more than 60 renewable energy projects in two years, enough to power almost seven million homes.

“Australians have to choose between the renewable energy transition that is already underway and is driving down prices, or paying for an expensive nuclear fantasy that may never happen,” Plibersek said.

The 2688 hectare former sugar cane farmland is also adjacent to the Renewable Energy Inquiry Area (REIA) identified in the North Queensland Regional Plan 2020, which is a 25-year strategic statutory planning document for surrounding local governments.

It is also adjacent to developer Pacific Blue’s 100MW Haughton Solar Farm and Queensland’s Powerlink high-voltage transmission network service provider, enabling direct connection to the regional grid.

Cambridge JMD Australia is leading the project in partnership with north Queensland landowner Davco Farming. Singapore-based developer Confluence Energy will be responsible for overseeing all development activities.

The first stage of the project is scheduled to begin in 2025, creating 400 jobs. The facility is scheduled to be put into service by the end of 2026.

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