Plans for a new Central Queensland gas turbine power station with a generation capacity of up to 850MW are moving through the approvals process.
The gas-fired plant is just the first stage of Renewable Energy Partners’ proposed Allawah Energy Hub Project, 20km west of Biloela and 7km from the township of Banana.
Construction and commissioning of the Allawah power plant are expected to take up to two and a half years, and it would operate for about 25 years, according to documents submitted as part of the federal environmental assessment process.
The proposed action includes building up to three heavy‑duty open‑cycle gas turbines, designed for retrofit to combined‑cycle or closed‑cycle configurations, including potential installation of heat recovery steam generators and associated infrastructure to support system strength.
The project would include a high‑voltage switching station to connect the facility to the transmission network and other supporting infrastructure.
The proponent is also seeking approval for temporary construction facilities such as laydown areas, a concrete batching plant and site offices.
The gas pipeline and transmission line infrastructure required to supply fuel to the Allawah power plant and export electricity to the broader network are subject to separate approvals.
‘These linear infrastructure elements are currently undergoing detailed route investigations to address environmental, ecological, land access and constructability constraints,’ the proponent stated.
The company said the site near Banana was chosen to benefit from existing gas infrastructure and planned transmission upgrades, including the Calvale–Mt Benn line.
Alternative locations were discounted where they presented higher ecological sensitivity, greater potential for impacts to MNES (Matters of National Environmental Significance), increased disturbance associated with longer linear infrastructure, or reduced constructability due to terrain, access or land‑use conflict.
‘Strategically, the project is well positioned within Central Queensland to provide dispatchable generation in support of the region’s evolving energy needs, including the planned retirement of coal‑fired generation and increasing penetration of variable renewable energy,’ the proponent stated.
‘The project aligns with Queensland Government energy policy objectives by contributing firming capacity to maintain system reliability and support the transition to lower‑emissions generation.’
The project’s referral under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is open for public commet until July 20.
