“Amazon is on a path to power our operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025, and we’re proud to deliver new solar and wind projects in Australia, driving strong sustainability outcomes for our customers and local communities,” said Ken Haig, Head of Energy and Environment Policy, Asia Pacific & Japan, Amazon Web Services."
Amazon Solar Project Australia – Wandoan is owned and operated by Vena Energy, and the renewable energy project is a part of the Wandoan South Project approved for 650 MW solar and 450 MW battery storage. This fully constructed solar project announced today supported approximately 220 jobs (at peak construction) and hosted a diverse workforce from across the State. This included the direct involvement of the local workforce from within the Region, with 30% of the workforce hailing from the area during the initial phase of the construction program. These local services accounted for more than 15% of the Project’s awarded contracts.
“As leaders in Australia’s clean energy transition, Queensland is committed to partnering with international business and industry to deliver local growth. Today’s announcement by Amazon and Vena Energy is further testament to the viability of our state for investment in renewable energy,” said Minister Mick de Brenni, Queensland Minister for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs.
Since 2016, Vena Energy has successfully commissioned an operational portfolio totalling 407 MW, including the 100 MW/150 megawatt-hours (MWh) Wandoan South Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), the first utility-scale battery in Queensland and one of the largest in Australia. As of June 2023, Vena Energy has a renewable energy pipeline amounting to approximately 6 GW in Australia, consisting of a 128.5 MW hybrid solar-and-energy storage project currently under construction, and a further 1.3 gigawatts (GW) of projects under advance development, including the Wandoan South Solar 2, which is forecasted to achieve commercial operation by Q3 2026.
The entire Wandoan South Project, will provide in excess of 1,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean energy, annually, to the Western Downs Region. This entire Project includes the Amazon Solar Project Australia – Wandoan, the proposed Wandoan South Solar 2, and ancillary support from Queensland’s largest utility scale battery, the Wandoan South Battery Energy Storage System.
Amazon now has seven renewable energy projects in Australia, which are helping power Amazon’s Australian operations, including Amazon data centers, and fulfilment centers, while also providing new sources of clean power to local communities and the East Coast grid.
The Wandoan project is Amazon’s first renewable energy project in Queensland. Amazon’s other projects include two operational solar farms in Suntop and Gunnedah in New South Wales, a wind farm in Hawkesdale, Victoria, and three rooftop solar projects on Amazon facilities in Melbourne and Sydney. Altogether, once operational, the projects are estimated to generate more than 1,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh)of clean power – enough to power more than 175,000 Australian homes.
