Hybrid renewable energy project Gawara Baya has reached financial close and will now move into construction, marking a significant milestone for one of North Queensland’s largest energy projects.
Located approximately 65km south-west of Ingham on Gugu Badhun Country, Gawara Baya is a hybrid renewable energy project comprising a 408MW wind farm and a 104MW grid-forming battery energy storage system.
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Enabling this milestone, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has acquired full ownership of the project from Windlab.
The project has secured long-term energy offtake arrangements, including agreements with Stanwell and SmartestEnergy, alongside participation in the Australian Government’s Capacity Investment Scheme, providing long-term revenue certainty as the project enters construction.
Gawara Baya has been developed through a relationship with the Gugu Badhun People under a landmark Indigenous Land Use Agreement that embeds cultural heritage protection, environmental stewardship and economic benefit.
The project includes Australia’s first renewable energy biodiversity net-gain strategy and long-term commitments to employment, training and economic participation for the Gugu Badhun People. Construction represents the next stage in delivering these commitments and relationships into the future.
Windlab CEO John Martin said reaching financial close was the culmination of years of responsible development.
“We are proud of the project that has been developed and the relationships that have helped shape it. Throughout development, our focus has been on doing things the right way, creating a project that respects Country, works with landholders and delivers lasting benefits for local communities,” he said.
“That commitment has shaped every part of the project, from our relationship with the Gugu Badhun People through to Australia’s first renewable energy biodiversity net-gain strategy. These initiatives reflect our belief that renewable energy projects should leave a positive legacy, not just generate electricity.”
CIP partner Yi-Hua Lu said, “The Gawara Baya project represents a significant long-term investment in Queensland, supporting regional jobs, infrastructure development and the reliable energy supply needed to underpin the state’s continued economic growth.
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“We look forward to working alongside our project partners, the Gugu Badhun People and local communities as the project now moves into construction.”
