Brisbane Airport soars on Stanwell’s first green energy contract

Brisbane Airport Corporation 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 clean energy, from the runway lights, to the terminals, travellators, escalators, retail shops, administration, IT and electric vehicles.

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 moving to diversify to support the decarbonisation of one of the hardest to abate sectors.

“From small businesses to big corporates like Brisbane Airport, they all have one thing in common – they want access to low emissions power,” Minister de Brenni said.

“The Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan sets out a path to bring another 22GW of renewable energy into the system, enabling Brisbane Airport to help travellers reduce their carbon footprint.

“The Palaszczuk Government will invest $4.5 billion into its government-owned energy companies to build and own more renewable energy, storage and hydrogen projects, in partnership with carbon conscious consumers.”

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said it marked a major milestone towards cutting energy emissions in the sunshine state by 90 per cent by 2035.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s Energy and Jobs Plan is the most ambitious action on climate change and renewables in Queensland’s history,” Minister Scanlon said.

“And what we’re seeing is businesses right across the state keen to take their own action and match our ambitions.

“This announcement shows the transformation of our coal-fired power stations to clean energy hubs is already reaping dividends in providing cheaper, renewable energy across Queensland.”

Brisbane Airport Corporation is Australia’s first airport operator to announce it will be powered by 100 per cent green energy by 2025.

Brisbane Airport Corporation 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 diversifying our generation portfolio in response to evolving market and consumer expectations to include renewable and low emission energy sources.

The partnership with Brisbane Airport Corporation will source renewable energy from the Clarke Creek Wind Farm and Blue Grass Solar projects.

ENDS

About Stanwell

We are a major provider of electricity and energy solutions to Queensland, the National Electricity Market and large energy users throughout Australia.

We are creating a new, lower carbon-generation portfolio that is complemented by energy storage, we are driving the development of a renewable hydrogen export industry in Central Queensland, and we are providing an essential service by powering the State.

Our portfolio includes new renewable projects as well as two of the most efficient coal fired power stations in Australia, the Tarong power stations near Kingaroy and Stanwell power station west of Rockhampton. As we continue to develop our pipeline of renewable projects, we are also operating flexibly, ramping generation form our coal-fired power stations up and down, when needed by the market.

We ensure low-cost fuel for our coal units by owning the Meandu Mine, adjacent to our Tarong power stations and having a long-term contract for the supply of low-cost fuel from the Coronado Curragh Mine for the Stanwell power station.

We are finding better, cleaner ways to reliably generate and store electricity for our customers. Through our pipeline of renewable energy and storage projects throughout Central and Southern Queensland, we will reduce our emissions intensity of our asset portfolio and create future opportunities for our people and the communities in which we operate.

We are also leading Australia’s renewable hydrogen industry, with plans to progress the development of the country’s largest green hydrogen export hub in Gladstone.

Stanwell anticipates 200 jobs will be needed over the next three years. 

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 (part of the Fortescue Future Industries group), 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.