Queensland state-owned utility CS Energy, in partnership with Macquarie Asset Management's platform Aula Energy, has secured full financing for the construction of the first stage of the Boulder Creek wind project in Queensland. The 228-MW stage represents the initial phase of a broader development plan for the wind complex, located approximately 40 km southwest of Rockhampton.
The project, which carries an estimated cost of AUD 740 million (USD 512.7 million / EUR 460.2 million), reached financial close on Friday, with construction set to commence in November. The wind farm will be built on pastoral land and will eventually consist of up to 60 wind turbines. The first phase will see the installation of 38 GE Vernova turbines, each with a capacity of 6 MW and a rotor diameter of 164 meters.
Once operational, the Boulder Creek wind project's initial phase is expected to produce enough clean energy to meet the annual electricity needs of over 85,000 homes. According to GE Vernova, the company will provide the wind turbines and manage their operations under a five-year full-service agreement, ensuring the smooth functioning of the machines throughout the early years of the project.
Preparatory on-site work will begin in the coming months, with full construction expected to ramp up in the first quarter of 2025. The partners aim to generate the first electricity from Boulder Creek Stage 1 by 2026. As part of a 20-year agreement, CS Energy will off-take all the power produced by the wind farm, contributing to Queensland's renewable energy supply and long-term sustainability goals.
Construction of the wind farm will be overseen by RES, which has been contracted to manage all aspects of the building process. Aula Energy, which was established by Macquarie Asset Management in 2022, and CS Energy each hold a 50% stake in the Boulder Creek wind project, underscoring the collaboration between public and private entities to drive renewable energy initiatives in Australia.
