Wind and solar energy hub

THE Far North is fast becoming a renewable energy hot spot of Australia.

The latest is a $200 million wind farm at Lakeland with 35 turbines.

Work is expected to start next year, providing work for 100 people during construction.

Developer Windlab says it will generate enough electricity to supply 50,000 homes.

Furthermore, the operator is offering a free 1.5 per cent stake in the venture to neighbouriong landholders.

The project is in addition to Conergy’s nearby $42.5 million Lakeland solar and storage project, which is half way through construction.

Late last year Lyon Solar announced a $220 million large-scale solar farm, also at Lakeland.

Work has started on the $400 million Mt Emerald wind farm west of Walkamin on the Tablelands, a project expected to provide electricity to up to 90,000 homes.

Stage one of the $1 billion Kidston hydro and solar project at a former gold mine site , 400km south-west of Cairns is expected to start late this year, the additional 270MW stage two is due to be completed in early 2020 and the 250MW hydro-electric power station in 2021.

The RATCH-Australia Windy Hill wind farm of 20 turbines at Ravenshoe has been operating for 17 years, plus there are others proposed at Tolga (20 turbines) and Forsayth (30 turbines).

The region’s key elements of the wind and sun are proving to be attractive to investors and developers of renewable energy projects.

They are the way of the future with hydroelectric dams almost impossible to build and coal-fired power stations considered too dirty. Nick Dalton nick.dalton@news.com.au