Vena Energy’s existing Wandoan South Solar 1 farm and Wandoan South Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

Vena Energy (Vena), a leading green energy solution provider across the Asia-Pacific region, will commence construction of a 320MW^[1] solar facility in Queensland’s Western Downs region, expanding its Wandoan South Project.

Once operational in mid-2027, Wandoan South Solar 2 will produce approximately 700GWh of clean energy annually, enough to power around 120,000 average Queensland households^[2]. This is equivalent to avoiding approximately 568,000 tonnes of CO² emissions and saving around 490 million litres of water annually compared to conventional thermal energy generation methods.

Wandoan South Solar 2 builds on Vena’s established development clusters in Australia and is part of the company’s 732MW green power and 600MWh battery storage capacity in operation, construction, or contracted stages across the country.

Owen Sela, Head of Australia at Vena Energy, said the new solar facility marks another step in Vena’s commitment to accelerating the adoption of renewable energy and advancing carbon neutrality while further collaborating with local communities to help build a more sustainable society.

“Wandoan South Solar 2 will play a crucial role in Queensland’s rapidly evolving energy landscape, adding significant renewable generation capacity that will help power the state’s future while supporting Australia’s commitment to net zero by 2050,” Owen said.

“The broader Wandoan South Project has already delivered tangible economic and social benefits. It includes Queensland’s first utility-scale 150MWh BESS completed in 2022 and the 168MW Wandoan South Solar 1, which began commercial operation in 2024.

“With this expansion, we are building on our foundations of open engagement with the Iman People, resulting in co-designed cultural practices that respect their connection to Country. We are equally committed to creating economic opportunities for local businesses, ensuring the broader region actively participates in and benefits from the project’s success.”

Vena has secured a long-term power purchase agreement with CleanCo, a low-emission energy retailer, generator and developer backed by the Queensland Government. The agreement enables CleanCo to supply renewable energy from Wandoan South Solar 2 to some of Queensland’s largest employers, supporting their decarbonisation goals and Queensland’s clean energy future.

CleanCo CEO Tom Metcalfe said the milestone showcases what’s possible through strong collaboration between industry and government.

“We are proud to join with Vena Energy on Wandoan South Solar 2, helping to bring this exciting project to life,” Mr Metcalfe said. “With construction now getting underway, the solar farm will soon be delivering real benefits for the Western Downs and beyond.

“CleanCo is uniquely positioned as the state’s only pumped hydro operator to store the energy from this project during the day and deliver it to Queenslanders when it’s needed the most during early evening and overnight. We are backing an energy future that is affordable, reliable and sustainable, delivering long-term value to customers and communities across the state.”

Vena has awarded the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract to GRS, who will oversee the installation of 450,000+ solar photovoltaic modules. GRS Managing Director, Jose Miguel Plaza said the company was proud to partner with Vena Energy following their successful collaboration on Wandoan South Solar 1.

“Wandoan South Solar 2 will offer numerous opportunities for local communities, with significant economic benefits expected to flow to Queensland-based SMEs during construction,” he said. “We are convinced that our close collaboration with stakeholders will ensure the successful completion of the project, contributing to a sustainable future.”

During peak construction, the workforce is expected to reach up to 400 people, with opportunities for local and First Nations communities.

Starting today until 8 May, Vena Energy and GRS will host Job Opportunity Application Days in Miles, Wandoan and Chinchilla (29 April – 1 May), and for the Iman community in Rockhampton (7-8 May) to optimise opportunities to work on Country. Interested candidates can also complete an Expression of Interest.

About Vena Energy

Vena Energy (Vena), a leading green solution provider in the Asia Pacific region, is accelerating the transition to sustainable and affordable renewable energy that delivers lasting economic, social, and environmental benefits to our host communities and stakeholders.

We provide green energy and digital solutions to our customers, which are powered by a renewable energy portfolio of Onshore Wind, Solar, and Offshore Wind projects totaling 38GW^[3] and a green infrastructure pipeline including 25GWh of BESS^[4], 2.2GWIT of Data Centers, and 848 KTPA of Green Hydrogen and Ammonia.

With an extensive local presence of over 1,000 employees across 80 corporate and site offices globally, Vena is committed to advancing the adoption of low-carbon energy, contributing to global climate goals, and shaping a greener future.

For more information, please visit www.venaenergy.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram.

[1] All capacities mentioned throughout this press release are in direct current (DC), unless otherwise stated.

[2] Households Powered is based on annual household electricity consumption of each operating country derived from Residential Electricity Consumption data obtained from the International Energy Agency (2020) and number of households data derived from population data from United Nations (2022) and household size data taken from United Nations (2022) and Statista database (2021).

[3] as of 31 December 2024.

[4] Includes 0.2GWh BESS OCC portfolio

INDEPENDENT NEWS IS IMPORTANT.

Enjoy reading Eco Voice? Please help us by purchasing a GIFT Voucher or send one to a friend and encourage people to purchase trees or seeds via The Native Shop – www.nativeshop.com.au