Pieces come together for Coopers Gap

Published Wednesday, 12 September, 2018 at 11:05 AM

Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy
The Honourable Dr Anthony Lynham

Two 200-tonne electricity transformers have arrived at Cooranga North near Kingaroy, bringing one of the the nation’s largest wind farms a step closer to joining the grid.

Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the two transformers were on the site of a new substation under construction beside AGL’s Coopers Gap wind farm, midway between Kingaroy and Dalby.

“This is a major milestone for Coopers Gap and required special trucks to transport the transformers more than 260 kilometres from the Port of Brisbane,” Dr Lynham said.

“The renewable energy produced from the wind farm’s 123 turbines will also reduce carbon emissions by 1.18 million tonnes annually, the equivalent of taking 340,000 cars off the road.

"Importantly, it will create up to 200 jobs in the region during construction, while Powerlink’s substation and grid connection works will support 26 jobs.”

The wind farm is one of Australia’s largest and is the second large-scale renewable project in the Western Downs to get underway.

It will generate up to 440 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy – enough to power a city the size of Ipswich - when fully operational in mid-2019.

Coopers Gap is also a co-ordinated project, a special status which allows the Queensland’s independent Co-ordinator-General to use his powers to cut red tape and help AGL deliver the project.

Powerlink Chief Executive Merryn York said Powerlink was proud to play an instrumental role in connecting one of Australia’s largest wind farms to the electricity grid.   

“These transformers are the most significant pieces of equipment required for Powerlink’s work to connect the wind farm to the electricity transmission network.

Transmission connection construction work is on track to be completed by late 2018, depending on weather.

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