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ACCIONA Energía Australia Managing Director Brett Wickham recently delivered a keynote address at the Queensland Energy Club Regional event in Gladstone, Queensland. His address highlighted how ACCIONA Energía’s Aldoga Solar Farm, currently under construction nearby, will play a pivotal role in realising the Gladstone State Development Area’s goals. The project is a compelling demonstration of renewable energy diversification and transition in action for Queensland and Australia.
The event was attended by around 100 guests, including the newly formed Community Engagement Committee (CEC) for the Aldoga Solar Farm.
Brett highlighted how the Aldoga Solar Farm will contribute positively to the Gladstone economy through job creation, local procurement, and community investment. “These projects enable billions in investment in local procurement, local employment, and local benefits in Australia’s regions. These are all positive outcomes. Similarly, projects are lifelines to farmers providing drought-proof incomes that help protect the family farm,” said Wickham.
He went on to explain how the Aldoga Solar Farm is an example of what renewable energy can deliver beyond what can be seen in the paddock. Aldoga is supporting additional jobs through an ‘unseen supply chain’, generating not just energy but local jobs, supporting Australian manufacturing, and reaching new export markets. The 380MW Aldoga Solar Farm in Gladstone will create around 350 construction jobs. It will generate $150m in local economic activity and support an upstream supply chain of Australian-made components. Brett added, “Our solar panels are being mounted on tubing manufactured in Brisbane, using steel from BlueScope’s Port Kembla Steelworks in the Illawarra, made with iron ore from the Pilbara in Western Australia.”
Brett highlighted the need to recognise three things: Australia’s regions have needed more investment for decades, and renewables are delivering it right here and now. Renewables are the next stage in Australia’s ambition to position itself as an energy superpower, with the regions at the forefront of that aim. Finally, support for renewables means support for Australian manufacturing across the whole of the supply chain.