Environmental approval for two Queensland renewable energy projects has pushed the federal government past two major milestones, with more than 150 renewable energy projects approved across Australia since the May 2022 election, including 50 in Queensland.
The Bungaban Solar Project in the Western Downs region, a joint venture between Windlab and Squadron Energy, was the 150th project to receive the green light.
The neighbouring Bungaban Wind Farm followed as the 152nd approval and the 50th Queensland renewables project.
The 150 projects will generate enough energy to power every home in Australia.
They are expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 84 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, equivalent to taking 27.6 million passenger cars off the road.
The projects have also injected tens of billions of dollars into the national economy.
The approvals span the nation and include 64 solar farms, 34 onshore wind farms, 20 energy storage systems, 18 infrastructure and exploration projects, including for offshore wind farms, and 14 transmission projects.
The 500-megawatt Bungaban Solar Project was approved in just 20 business days after its developers chose a site on previously cleared and environmentally degraded land.
The 1400-megawatt Bungaban Wind Farm was approved following a rigorous assessment process and must meet strict conditions to minimise its potential environmental impact.
Together, the Australian-owned projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4.92 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to taking 1.83 million cars off the road each year.
The wind farm is on the National Renewable Energy Priority List and is a successful tenderer under the government’s Capacity Investment Scheme.
It is also set to deliver a major boost to the region, creating around 1000 jobs at peak construction and 50 ongoing jobs, while injecting around $500 million into the local economy.
Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said reaching the milestone showed the government was delivering a pipeline of reliable, renewable energy to power Australian homes and industry.
Minister Watt said the Bungaban development illustrated the shift underway.
“The Bungaban projects demonstrate the renewable energy transition in action, with the wind farm expected to help power the Boyne aluminium smelter in Gladstone, as it shifts from coal-powered power to cheaper, cleaner energy,” said Watt.
“These are exactly the type of job creating projects that simply wouldn’t go ahead under the Coalition’s plan to cut investment in energy, which would only drive up power bills.”
Watt said the government’s environmental reforms would continue to support the transition by making approvals faster, clearer and more predictable, while delivering better environmental outcomes.
The solar project’s rapid approval highlights the benefits of choosing sites that have already been cleared, with the 20-business-day timeframe showing how quickly well-planned proposals can progress through the assessment process.
Together, the two Bungaban projects represent a major investment in Queensland’s Western Downs region, combining 500 megawatts of solar generation with 1400 megawatts of wind capacity.
Both are Australian-owned, and their combined output will contribute to the national emissions reductions expected from the wider program of approvals.
With the milestone now reached, the government says its focus will remain on moving projects through the approvals system efficiently, so that more renewable generation, storage and transmission can connect to the grid and support homes and industry across the whole country, officials said.
