ENERGY ‘CHAIN’ FIRES UP REGION
Australia-first hybrid power plant proposed
A PIONEERING solar-gas hybrid power plant that will produce up to 150 megawatts every year has been proposed for Charlton.
In a move hailed by the Mayor as innovative and forward-thinking, Toowoomba construction company FKG Group announced its plans to build the private power grid off Wittmack Rd to produce cheap electricity for its new $40 million Pulse Data Centre and the Toowoomba Technology Park. The company said the project could cement Toowoomba as a technological trend-setter.
AN AUSTRALIA-FIRST hybrid gas and solar microgrid power plant generating 150 megawatts of electricity has been hailed as a game changer for the Toowoomba region by its developer.
All it needs is approval from the Toowoomba Regional Council.
Applicant FKG Group submitted its plans this month to the council for the micro-grid renewable energy project to generate power for the company’s pioneering Toowoomba Technology Park.
According to the planning report from Icubed Consulting’s Elizabeth Cruice, the project will be built on 14 lots covering 264 hectares off Witmack Rd at Charlton.
Having already built and opened the $40 million Pulse Data Centre earlier this year, FKG Group property development manager Dallas Hunter said the park needed reliable and cheap electricity to meet user needs.
“Rising energy costs are a challenge for all businesses, including in Toowoomba,” he said.
“Having affordable power available to the new precinct should significantly enhance its attractiveness to businesses from Australia or overseas.
“We expect significant benefits from this infrastructure for Toowoomba and will ensure the local community is closely consulted over its development.”
Mr Hunter said the project, done with contractors like AECOM and Siemens, could cement Toowoomba as a regional technological centre.
“Potentially, we can change Toowoomba as a regional centre by doing this,” he said.
“Everyone we’re dealing with on this, they hope this works so they can replicate it in other centres across Australia.”
On top of supplying constant electricity to the $40 million Pulse Data Centre, the new gas-solar plant is expected to power FKG Group's Toowoomba Technology Park.
Work should start in 2019.