Brisbane Airport corporate (BAC) will be powered with 100 per cent renewable energy, as part of a landmark renewable energy agreement with government-owned energy generator, Stanwell.
Stanwell will supply up to 185 GWh of renewable energy each year, to enable all of BAC’s operations to run on energy that is linked to Stanwell’s renewable energy projects, from the runway lights to the terminals, travellators, escalators, retail shops, administration, IT and electric vehicles refuellers.
Queensland Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni, said the deal showed how the company, which had historically been known for its coal-fired energy generation, was supporting the state’s decarbonisation efforts.
“From small businesses to big corporate companies like Brisbane Airport, they all have one thing in common – they want access to cleaner, cheaper energy,” Minister de Brenni said.
“Our recently launched Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan sets out a path to bring another 22GW of renewable energy into the energy system, answering the call from households, consumers, and businesses for more renewable energy.
“I am confident this will be the first of many renewable energy contracts made by Stanwell, as they and our other government-owned generators and retailers play their role in the state’s energy transformation.
“The Palaszczuk Government will invest $4.5 billion into its government-owned energy companies to fund the development of more renewable energy projects, storage and hydrogen projects, and over the next five years, Stanwell will invest approximately $1.8 billion dollars in the clean energy transformation.”
Brisbane Airport Corporate Chief Executive Gert-Jan de Graaff said the deal would mean BAC could meet its net zero emissions commitment by 2025, 25 years earlier than planned.
“We welcome this deal with Stanwell and are proud to be customer number one in its renewable energy pipeline,” Mr de Graaff said.
“This clean energy deal delivers on Brisbane Airport Corporation’s commitment to be a sustainable world leading airport city.
“Queenslanders can travel through our terminals knowing their journey begins and ends at one of the world’s most sustainable airports once this green energy begins flowing from regional Queensland.”Stanwell CEO, Michael O’Rourke, said Stanwell was proud to be supporting Brisbane Airport Corporation accelerate its net zero target by 2025 through its retail arm Stanwell Energy.
“This is the first of many renewable energy options Stanwell Energy will be offering to support our commercial and industrial customers meet their decarbonisation requirements,” Mr O’Rouke said.
“Stanwell Energy is unique in its approach when it comes to its service offering. Our dedicated account managers are able to work with customers to develop tailored energy contracts that provide flexibility, security, and access to renewable options.
“We are renewing our generation portfolio to include renewable and low emission energy sources.
The partnership with Brisbane Airport Corporation will be linked to renewable energy from the Clarke Creek Wind Farm and Blue Grass Solar projects.
About Clarke Creek Wind Farm
The Clarke Creek Wind Farm is an 800 MW wind project located in the heart of Central Queensland, approximately 150 km north-west of Rockhampton.
It will become one of the largest wind farms in the southern hemisphere upon completion and is part of a wider 1,200 MW project being developed by Squadron Energy, which also comprises 400 MW of solar power and battery energy storage.
The first stage of the project is planned to include 100 wind turbines exporting 450 MW of electricity into the national electricity grid in 2024.
Stanwell will take 346.5 MW from the Stage 1 generation to sell to commercial and industrial customers and will act as intermediary for the wind farm taking responsibility for the dispatch and the bidding of the electricity generated into the National Electricity Market.
About Blue Grass Solar
The Blue Grass solar farm project is a 200 MW solar facility that will produce 420 GWh of green electricity a year, sufficient to power approximately 80,000 Queensland homes.
The project is located 14km from Chinchilla in the Western Downs council area of Queensland and is being developed by Spanish renewable energy producer X-ELIO.
The electricity generated at the facility will be supplied to the national electricity market through an existing 132kV Chinchilla to Columboola transmission line network in the Western Downs, which is operated by Queensland’s transmission network provider Powerlink.
A new substation is proposed to be constructed at Cameby to connect the solar farm with the transmission network.
Stanwell has signed an agreement with X-ELIO for 49MW offtake from the solar farm.