Queensland has emerged as Australia’s largest centre for proposed onshore wind energy development, accounting for half the nation’s planned capacity. However, community opposition, rising construction costs and changes to government policy are slowing progress, raising concerns that billions of dollars in private investment could be at risk.
The state currently has 543 operational wind turbines, with another 17 projects potentially increasing that number to 1,383.
According to the Clean Energy Council’s latest investment report, Queensland has $5.8 billion worth of wind projects that have secured funding or commenced construction.
State Treasury figures indicate that, if all approved projects proceed, Queensland’s installed wind generation capacity could reach approximately one and a half times its existing coal-fired power capacity.
Queensland Records Australia’s Slowest Wind Farm Construction Times
Despite its substantial development pipeline, Queensland has the longest average completion time for onshore wind projects in Australia, at approximately three years.
Industry experts attribute the delays to community concerns, planning uncertainty, higher construction costs and slower development of electricity transmission infrastructure.
Community Opposition Adds Pressure to Wind Projects
Cattle farmer Glen Franz, whose property north of Dalby is located within three kilometres of approximately 13 turbines at Wambo Wind Farm, has raised concerns about developments near residential properties.
“Obviously, there’s a place for it, but it’s not in these built-up areas, it’s too closely settled,” he said.
“We’ve always advocated that we’re not anti-renewable.”
Mr Franz recently hosted a meeting involving concerned residents and federal politicians to discuss the impacts of wind energy developments on regional communities.
Grattan Institute energy and climate change senior fellow Tony Wood said several interconnected challenges were restricting Queensland’s wind energy expansion.
“We’ve got a very large pipeline, but blocked pipelines don’t flow very well,” he said.
Mr Wood said investment decisions needed to align with clear government policies and adequate transmission infrastructure to ensure proposed projects could deliver electricity to the grid.
Government Policy Changes Create Investment Uncertainty
The Queensland government, led by Premier David Crisafulli, has introduced planning requirements obliging wind and solar developers to undertake social impact assessments and negotiate community benefit agreements.
The government has also intervened to cancel two major developments, Moonlight Range and Forest Wind, which together had the potential to supply electricity to approximately 760,000 homes.
Mr Wood said the government’s decision to abandon renewable energy targets without clearly outlining its longer-term position had created uncertainty for investors.
“Unless that’s fixed, the pipeline may remain a somewhat plugged pipeline,” he said.
Queensland Treasurer and Energy Minister David Janetzki defended the government’s approach, emphasising its support for private investment.
“Our Energy Roadmap is about economics and engineering over ideology, coal for longer, more gas and private sector investment into renewables,” he said.
Where Are Queensland’s Wind Farms Located?
Queensland currently has 10 operating wind farms, with most concentrated in regional areas west of Brisbane.
The Darling Downs and Western Downs regions are major centres of wind generation, hosting five operational wind farms.
MacIntyre Wind Farm Among Queensland’s Largest
The 923-megawatt MacIntyre Wind Farm near Warwick is Queensland’s largest operational wind development, with enough generation capacity to supply approximately 620,000 homes.
The Western Downs and South West region collectively hosts 249 operating turbines.
Central Queensland has the largest pipeline of approved developments, with seven projects, followed by North Queensland with four.
Three projects are approved in Wide Bay-Burnett, two in the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday region and one in the Darling Downs.
Major Projects Could Add Thousands of Megawatts
The recently approved Bungaban Wind Farm in the Western Downs and the Wongalee Wind Energy Project west of Townsville could each deliver up to 1,400 megawatts of generation capacity.
If all planned developments proceed, Queensland’s operational turbine count could increase to 1,383.
For comparison, the United Kingdom has approximately 7,353 onshore wind turbines despite occupying an area around seven times smaller than Queensland.
Renewable Energy Industry Warns of Lost Investment
Queensland Renewable Energy Council chief executive Katie-Anne Mulder said the state possessed some of Australia’s strongest wind resources, but developers needed to improve community engagement.
“There’s been some not-great examples of development, and we understand that,” she said.
Ms Mulder also highlighted an industry survey in which 82 per cent of respondents believed Queensland’s Energy Roadmap required improvements to provide greater investment certainty.
“Queensland really risks missing out on those billions of dollars in private investment,” she said.
Will More Wind Power Reduce Electricity Bills?
Mr Wood said renewable energy generation had helped reduce wholesale electricity prices, but warned that additional infrastructure costs could offset some savings.
New transmission lines, energy storage systems and the eventual retirement of coal-fired power stations would all influence future electricity prices.
“Even though the cost of producing electricity from wind and solar is cheaper than coal, by the time you get it to where we need it, it’s not much cheaper,” he said.
Balancing Affordability, Reliability and Renewable Energy
Queensland faces the challenge of expanding renewable electricity generation while maintaining affordable and reliable power supplies.
Although its wind energy pipeline represents a substantial investment opportunity, the pace of development will depend on planning certainty, community support and supporting infrastructure.
Without progress in these areas, Queensland risks falling further behind in wind farm construction despite holding Australia’s largest share of proposed onshore wind capacity.
Cory Weinberg is a contributor to Sproutwired.com, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Cory’s work highlights relevant stories, practical insights and important issues affecting communities and industries, with an emphasis on accuracy, clarity and information that readers can trust.