Mega-Projects Leading Way for Renewable Energy

In this article from Bluebeam, three of Australia’s mega renewable energy projects under way or completed are outlined.

As renewable energy finally undercuts traditional sources in terms of price, and as world leaders demand action around cutting carbon emissions, major renewable projects are popping up around the globe.

Australia is no exception to this trend. The sunburnt country is putting its weather to good use with record-breaking solar farms, wind farms and battery projects.

The scope and audacity of Australia’s most impressive mega-projects would have been unimaginable just five years ago. Here are three mega-projects currently finished or under way in Australia…

Port Augusta Renewable Energy Project

Spanish company Iberdrola’s first greenfields project in Australia comes at a cost of $500 million.

A total of 50 wind turbines and almost 250,000 solar panels as well as a substation, access roads, transmission lines and more are being constructed.

The various pieces of infrastructure will come together under the title of the Port Augusta Renewable Energy Project.

Western Downs Green Power Hub

Generally considered the largest solar farm in Australia, the Western Downs Green Power Hub near Chinchilla in south-west Queensland will be capable of providing up to 460MW of renewable energy.

Construction began in July 2020, and commissioning began in December 2022.

Sun Cable

Sun Cable is perhaps the highest profile but also most controversial of Australia’s renewable mega-projects.

It has attracted the financial backing of well-known names, such as Atlassian founder Mike Cannon-Brookes and FMG’s Andrew Forrest. However, some in the industry wonder whether it will ever become a reality.

Bluebeam discussed the issues surrounding renewable energy projects with environmental scientist Peter Newman, a professor of sustainability at Curtin University and a co-ordinating lead author for transport at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The IPCC provides policymakers with scientific assessments on all matters relating to climate.

Newman says smaller projects will likely be even more important than large ones as we head into the future.

Click here to read more of environmental scientist Professor Peter Newman thoughts on whether mega renewable projects will provide solutions for our future challenges, and to learn more about Australia’s biggest renewable energy projects.

 
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