DP Energy announces plans for wind farm with 2,000 MWh co-located battery storage in Australia

Irish renewables developer DP Energy unveiled plans for the Windy Plains Renewable Energy Park, a 1,400 MW wind farm co-located with a 500 MW / 2,000 MWh BESS, in the state of Queensland, Australia. The exact location is about 40 kilometers southeast of Julia Creek, in the far inland, somewhat close to the mining city of Mount Isa.

Few details of the battery storage approach were provided in documents thus far. The project will deploy roughly 197 wind turbines, with each rated at about 7 MW, on largely flat terrain that affords optimal wind speeds, and minimal proximity to neighboring dwellings.

Generated power will use the colocated energy storage, with transmission connection proposed via a substation connecting to Powerlink Queensland’s new CopperString 330 kV transmission line. 

Hugh Cantwell, DP Energy Australia’s Head of Development, was optimistic that North Queensland’s strong winds were the ideal location for the proposed project. 

“Windy Plains Renewable Energy Park is perfectly positioned to tap into North Queensland’s incredible wind resources, resulting in long‑term economic benefits for the region,” Cantwell said.

“With strong, consistent winds, ample land, and direct access to new transmission infrastructure, it will power both the grid and local growth for decades to come.”

The Queensland project joins DP Energy’s national portfolio, which includes the proposed 430 MW Callide Wind Farm in central Queensland, the 700 MW Euston Wind Farm in New South Wales, and the operational 320 MW hybrid Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park in South Australia.

Windy Plains is now in the feasibility stage with environmental, cultural heritage and technical assessments underway. DP Energy will be holding a community drop-in session at the Julia Creek Civic Centre on Wednesday, Aug. 13, and the project website is live, which can be viewed at www.windyplainsrep.com.au. In addition, a Community Benefit Fund Survey is live.