Proposed Wind and Solar Factories planned across Queensland.
The Impact of Wind Farms in Queensland: Costs, Numbers, and Environmental Considerations
There are currently 3,365 wind turbines proposed for Queensland, delivering a nameplate capacity of approximately 22,874 MW. This number does not include additional wind farms that are in the planning stages but lack specific turbine quantities. For example, the proposed Proserpine Wind Farm will have over 200 turbines, making it reasonable to estimate that the total number of turbines planned in the state is already over 4,000.
However, given that wind turbines typically operate at a capacity factor of around 25%, we would need to double the number of turbines to approximately 6,600 in order to ensure electricity supply during summer nights when wind may be available. If Queensland experiences several windless nights, even with the proposed Eungella Pumped Hydro project, the grid could only sustain power for a limited number of hours.
To achieve true Net Zero, which involves removing carbon emissions from agriculture and the transport fleet, the state may need to install over 20,000 turbines. If there’s no wind, additional gas plants would be required to maintain energy supply. Furthermore, should Queensland pursue theoretical hydrogen energy, another 10,000 to 25,000 turbines may be needed—provided there is enough land with consistent wind conditions to support them.
While some wind farms in the southern part of the state are situated on cleared or mostly cleared land, many of the wind farms proposed from Gladstone northward are located in areas of high biodiversity. These locations are often characterized by untouched, rugged, and remote topography. Notably, the Chalumbin Wind Farm remains a point of contention, as it could reappear in the planning stages depending on who secures transmission capacity first.
The future of Queensland’s energy transition will showcase the trade-offs between renewable energy expansion and the preservation of some of the state’s best high-elevation refugia forests, especially in the areas north of Gladstone.
Cost Considerations: Each wind turbine can range from $3 million to $4 million, meaning that the current proposal of 3,365 turbines represents an investment between $10 billion and $13.5 billion. If the number of turbines increases to 6,600 or more, the total cost could climb to over $20 billion, with further investments needed if additional turbines are required for hydrogen production.
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