Hopeland Solar

In August 2023, CIMIC acquired the development rights for our second solar project, Hopeland Solar, within the Darling Downs Renewable Energy Zone. It is located between Dalby and Chinchilla, approximately 230km west of Brisbane. It is a proposed 312MWdc / 250MWac solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation plant and has the potential to generate enough independent electricity to power approximately 100,000 average-sized homes.

The project contributes to the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan for 70% of electricity consumption to be sourced from renewables by 2032, and 80% by 2035. It is next to the Kogan Creek coal-fired power station and will contribute to energy demand from retirement of this facility.

The solar project will connect to the grid via the adjacent Powerlink 275kV Western Downs Substation. Its location close to the Western Downs sub-station makes it ideal for co-location of a potential 175 MW/350 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The Hopeland BESS will be separately connected to Western Downs Substation. Together, the solar farm and the BESS comprise the Hopeland Solar Project (HSP).

The project has been approved for development by the local authority and is focusing on federal environmental approvals and assessments, with construction anticipated to start in 2025 and operations and renewable energy generation expected to start in 2027.

Read more here.