Ireland-based renewable energy developer DP Energy has secured development approval from the Australian state of Queensland’s Assessment Referral Agency for its 430MW Callide wind farm.

To be located 22km from Biloela and 75km from Gladstone in the Calliope range, the wind farm features 70 turbines, each with 5 to 6MW capacity.

Each turbine has a tip height of 250m. One or more substations will be built to collect electricity to be transmitted to the national grid.

These turbines will generate enough clean energy to meet the needs of 130,000 Queensland households.

The project is forecast to have a life of 30 years after which the equipment will be removed, re-instated or refurbished.

The wind project is undergoing assessment from the Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water. Construction will begin in 2024.

The Callide wind farm will create 280 temporary jobs during the construction phase and 20 permanent jobs once operational.

Indirect jobs will also be created through increased demand for local products, materials and services.

DP Energy Australia projects head Hugh Cantwell stated: “We are delighted to have been awarded development approval for our Callide Wind Farm project in Queensland.

“This marks a significant milestone in the project’s lifecycle, and the DP Energy Australia team looks forward to the next phases of the project, with the ultimate goal of creating a greener future for Queensland.”

Headquartered in Cork, Ireland, DP Energy has developed more than 1GW in renewable energy projects over a 30-year period across Ireland, the UK, Canada and Australia. It has a current pipeline of more than 9GW.