CS Energy has acquired the $1.3 billion Lotus Creek Wind Farm near St Lawrence from Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.
The acquisition makes the project the first 100 per cent publicly owned wind farm to reach the construction phase under the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) will help deliver the 285 MW project, and Vestas and Zenviron have been appointed to lead equipment supply and construction, which will commence in the coming weeks.
Image: Representatives from CS Energy, CIP, Vestas and Zenviron following the project signing this week.
The project will feature 46 wind turbines and produce enough clean energy to power the equivalent of 150,000 homes.
It will also provide an economic boost to the region by creating approximately 400 jobs during construction and up to 15 ongoing operational roles.
The Lotus Creek Wind Farm is backed by $624.3 million from the Miles Government’s Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund and $300 million from coal royalties announced in the 2023-24 Budget.
This project is underpinned by the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan objectives of fostering economic growth, promoting local employment, and supporting regional communities.
The project has received State and Federal government approvals and is subject to a range of best practice conditions, including securing more than 4,500 hectares of land in the region to be improved and protected in perpetuity as environmental offsets.
Vestas and Zenviron worked closely during the development phase with the Barada Barna People and Barada Kabalbara Yetimarala (BKY) People, the Traditional Owner groups of the project. The project will continue to work together with the Traditional Owner groups to increase employment opportunities for members of indigenous communities.
CS Energy CEO Darren Busine said the project would be CS Energy’s first 100 per cent owned wind asset and is a key part of our strategy to develop up to 700 MW of wind generation in Central Queensland.
“The Lotus Creek Wind Farm will support the growing demand for renewable energy from our large commercial and industrial customers, and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the region," Mr Busine said.
“The proximity of the Lotus Creek Wind Farm in the Central Queensland region makes it ideally located to provide reskilling opportunities for our employees.
“Once the project is operational, Vestas will service and maintain the wind turbines and CS Energy will carry out asset management on the balance of plant.
“CS Energy and Vestas are working collaboratively to develop potential pathways for CS Energy employees to carry out additional maintenance services in coming years.”
Background
- CIP has developed the project and will now oversee the construction of the wind farm.
- Vestas will supply and install the 46 wind turbines for the project and has also been appointed to deliver the long term service contract.
- Zenviron has partnered with Vestas in a project consortium in which Zenviron will deliver the balance-of-plant civil and electrical works along with the workforce camp.
- The project approved by State and Federal authorities involves a completely different location and design than an earlier iteration of the Lotus Creek Wind Farm that was withdrawn from the Federal EPBC application process in 2020.
- The Lotus Creek Wind Farm has been designed to minimise the impact to ecological values.
- The wind farm is expected to be operational in 2027, following commissioning in the final quarter of 2026.
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