Conpower

The Western Downs Green Power Hub, located near Chinchilla in Queensland, is a major renewable energy project featuring a 460 MWp solar farm and a 270 MW / 540 MWh battery, making it one of Australia’s largest operational solar farms. It generates over 1,080 GWh of renewable energy annually, significantly advancing Queensland’s clean energy objectives. Spanning approximately 1,500 hectares on Barunggam country, the project is designed to minimize visual impact and connects to the national grid via a new 275 kV line. Additionally, it supports the shift to renewable energy while delivering economic benefits to the local community, including job creation and local funding.

CPP’s scope of works for the Western Downs Green Power Hub project involved designing, engineering, constructing, and commissioning a 275/33kV substation to connect the Western Downs solar farm to the supply authority grid.

The specifics:

Multiple 275kV bays with the below key features:

• Capacitive Voltage Transformers
• Isolators
• Earth Switches
• Dual Earth Switches
• Circuit Breakers
• Current Transformers
• Surge Arrestors

Two 275/33/33kV 240/300MVA transformers with the below features:

• On-Load Tap Changers
• Neutral Earthing Transformers

Control building constructed:

• Protection, control, and metering panels
• AC main switchboards
• Security systems

33kV Switchgear building containing:

• Two main switchboards
• Feeder panels
• Protection and metering panels