This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
PUBLICLY-owned Queensland energy generator and retailer CleanCo is set to provide renewable energy for Scentre Group’s Westfield centres across the Sunshine State.
The agreement between CleanCo and Scentre Group will see renewable energy both produced and delivered in Queensland, in a major move towards the state government’s sustainability target of 50% renewable energy generation by 2030.
“CleanCo is unique in its remit – a government owned corporation that is leading the energy transformation in Queensland from the beginning to end of the supply chain – building and investing in projects and selling electricity to customers at the other end,” said Mick de Brenni, minister energy, renewables and hydrogen.
“Every time Queenslanders visit a Queensland Westfield, they will be supporting Queensland jobs and Queensland’s net zero goals.”
The Western Downs Green Power Hub, Kaban Green Power Hub and the Dulacca Wind farm, where a combined 850 regional jobs are supported and CleanCo has purchase agreements in place, will provide the power for the shopping centres.
“Agreements like this one with Scentre Group underpin our own target of bringing 1,400MW of new renewable energy into the market by 2025, while supporting the Queensland Government’s 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030 target,” said Tom Metcalfe, CEO at CleanCo.
CleanCo has a purchase agreement for 320MW of the 400MW of renewable energy produced at the Western Downs Green Power Hub, 100% of the energy produced at the 157MW Kaban Green Power Hub wind farm and 126MW or 70% of the 180MW Dulacca Renewable Energy Project wind farm.
“This deal is further proof of how our publicly-owned CleanCo is getting on with the job of connecting businesses in Queensland to clean, reliable energy from Queensland renewables and helping decarbonise our economy,” added de Brenni.
The deal follows CleanCo’s agreement with Wesfarmers back in march, ensuring publicly-owned renewable energy was provided to major retailers across the state including Kmart, Target, Bunnings and Officeworks.
While for Scentre Group the deal aligns with the group’s sustainability targets as a key element of its strategy and growth, with the company having reduced its emissions by 30% since being established in 2014.
“The agreement with CleanCo will enable us to deliver our 50% emission reduction target by 2025 and is part of our plan to get to net zero by 2030,” said Elliott Rusanow, CEO-elect at Scentre Group.
“This agreement is a win for Queensland, a win for Westfield centres and a win for the environment,” concluded Metcalfe.
