Amazon and Vena Energy have announced the operation of a 125 MW solar farm, known as the Amazon Solar Farm Australia Wandoan, located in Woleebee, Queensland. Over 250,000 solar photovoltaic panels make up the farm, which is expected to produce enough renewable energy to power more than 60,000 Australian homes annually. This marks Amazon's first renewable energy project in the State of Queensland.
Ken Haig, Head of Energy and Environment Policy, Asia Pacific & Japan, Amazon Web Services, expressed the organisation's dedication to sustainable growth in Australia. "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," stated Haig. He further emphasised Amazon's commitment to local communities, highlighting their investment in generating clean energy to local grids, creating jobs, and supporting local businesses.
The Amazon Solar Farm Australia Wandoan is part of a larger project, Wandoan South Project, approved for 650 MW solar and 450 MW battery storage. It was created in partnership with Vena Energy, which is also responsible for the operation of the farm. The project supported approximately 220 jobs at the peak construction period, with 30% of the workforce under the initial phase of the construction being local to the region.
Queensland Minister for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs, Minister Mick de Brenni, commented on the project's significance in the State. He said, "Today’s announcement by Amazon and Vena Energy is further testament to the viability of our state for investment in renewable energy. Queensland's legendary renewable resources, publicly-owned energy system and world-class Energy and Jobs Plan provide a strong foundation for investment, and the Amazon Solar Farm is the latest renewable energy project to come online as a result."
Vena Energy's CEO, Nitin Apte, gave tribute to the recent accomplishment and its alignment with their mission to establish a sustainable future in Australia. "As Vena Energy continues to lead the way in the renewable energy landscape in Asia Pacific, this Project exemplifies our dedication to creating a cleaner, more sustainable future for Australia," he said.
The Wandoan South Project, as a whole, will supply over 1,000 GWh of clean energy per year to the Western Downs Region, including the Amazon Solar Project Australia Wandoan and the proposed Wandoan South Solar 2.
From 2020 to 2022, Amazon's renewable energy investments in Australia have generated an estimated AUD $467 million in local economic contributions. Amazon currently has seven renewable energy projects in Australia, powering Amazon data centres and fulfilment centres, as well as providing new sources of clean power to local communities and the East Coast grid. All the projects combined are estimated to generate over 1,000 GWh of clean power, sufficient for more than 175,000 Australian homes.
As of the end of 2022, 90% of the electricity Amazon used was from renewable energy resources, with the aim of achieving 100% by 2025. The company now has over 500 wind and solar projects globally, expected to generate more than 77,000 GWh of clean energy each year.