The Mount Isa region is to benefit from a Department of Energy and Public Works plan to deliver the proposed North West Queensland Hybrid Power Project (NWQHPP).
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni said the project could be Australia’s largest hybrid generator, generating 50 megawatts of cleaner, cheaper energy.
He said the project would be a step towards the Government’s 50 per cent renewable energy target.
“Our publicly-owned generator, Stanwell, is partnering with Vast Solar to develop feasibility options for electrifying the resources sector with despatchable, low-cost, reliable clean energy,” Mr de Brenni said.
“The development of the proposed NWQHPP will need a highly-skilled workforce during the two-year build and dozens of permanent skilled jobs over the 30-year life of the plant.”
He said it would demonstrate how renewables could provide continuous energy to power large industrial and resource businesses in the North-West, because that ultimately meant more jobs.
“This is another vote of confidence from industry that Queensland is the place to invest in the future of energy,” the Minister said.
Chief Executive of Vast Solar, Craig Wood said the project was calling for expressions of interest from contractors across a range of work streams.
“This is another significant milestone as we work through the feasibility study and get closer to turning soil on site,” Mr Wood said.
“Building the plant will require collaboration between local, regional and national experts from a range of fields, and will involve hundreds of workers from Mount Isa and the surrounding area.”
