RWE has received state planning approval from the Queensland Government for its 1GW Theodore wind farm project in Australia.
The onshore wind project would generate enough electricity to power about 500,000 Queensland homes.
The project, proposed for near Theodore in the Banana Shire in central Queensland, has received Development Application (DA) approval from Queensland’s State Assessment and Referral Agency.
Located about 22km east of Theodore and 50km south-west of Biloela, the wind farm is planned to have up to 170 turbines and a battery energy storage system.
Chief executive of RWE Renewables Australia Daniel Belton said: “RWE is thrilled to secure state planning approval for the Theodore Wind Farm, a 1-gigawatt project with strong community benefits, that would support Queensland’s energy supply.
“RWE has always understood that a key to successfully delivering projects is putting community first, and in line with this philosophy we have developed strong relationships with the community and other stakeholders at Theodore over the past three years.
“We appreciate the Queensland Government’s rigorous approach to DA assessment, and have proactively worked with the government to ensure we delivered best practice community engagement, which has supported the achievement of our DA.
“As we look ahead to commencing construction in 2026, we look forward to continuing to work with Powerlink and the Queensland Government on the infrastructure needed to make this project a success.
“We remain committed to collaborating with the community, government, traditional owners and other stakeholders to bring this project to life.”
The Theodore project is expected to generate $500m for the local and Queensland economy throughout construction. This is in addition to a community benefit fund of at least $500,000 per year – equating to about $17.5m across the operational life of the wind farm – once the project moves into the construction phase.
Construction of the project would take up to four years and require a workforce of up to 500 people at peak periods.
RWE and Stanwell are continuing discussions on offtake for Theodore under their memorandum of understanding, signed in 2023.
The Theodore project will now continue through the Federal Government’s EPBC Act process, where it has been placed on the National Renewable Energy Priority List.