The Bungaban Renewable Energy Project comprises a 1.4 gigawatt wind farm and a 350 megawatt / 1.4 gigawatt battery. The project would form part of the South Queensland Renewable Energy Hub.
The project is to be located in the Western Downs and Banana Shire regions of Queensland, approximately 40 kilometres nort-east of Wandoan and 60 kilometres south-west of Taroom.
Associated infrastructure to be delivered as part of the project includes access tracks, transmission lines, and quarries.
Key Dates
| Dec 2030 | Expected Construction Completion |
Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | Windlab |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Feb 2024 | Rio Tinto and Windlab sign a Power Purchase Agreement for 80 per cent of the electricity generated by the project over 25 years. |
| Apr 2024 | The Federal Government opened public consultation on the project through its EPBC Referral process, closing on 21 May 2024. |
| May 2024 | The Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water determined the project to be a controlled action under the EPBC Act. |
| Jan 2025 | The Queensland Government issued directions to pause the assessment of the project to allow proponents to demonstrate that the appropriate community consultation and impact assessment have been undertaken. The pause is in effect for four months to 16 May. |
| Mar 2025 | The project was included on the Federal Government's National Renewable Energy Priority List. The Priority List adopts a ‘faster to yes, faster to no’ approach. Identified projects will receive additional support and facilitation through regulatory and environmental processes. They will still have the same scrutiny applied as any other project and continue to be required to meet all statutory requirements. |
Estimated Total Cost
(2024)
Sector
Energy
Procurement approach
Other |
Location
Queensland |
Resources
Government resources
EPBC Referral2025/01/16 - Notice to place assessment on hold
SARA Approval Notice
