In Queensland, Australia, construction is underway of one of the largest wind farms in the Southern Hemisphere and ACCIONA’s largest wind farm globally. Protecting native flora and fauna is a fundamental activity of this project. Read more to find out how.
Some things in this world are difficult to comprehend. For instance, it is hard to believe that 150 million years ago, there were creatures whose footprints alone were as large as a human being. We’re talking about dinosaur tracks found in Western Australia, some measuring a staggering 170 centimeters in length, making them the largest ever discovered. Along the Kimberley coast, fossilized footprints from around twenty different species have been unearthed. However, while dinosaurs no longer roam the earth, there are some prehistoric species that still survive and exist in the country to this day. One of those is the Macrozamia conferta, a prehistoric cycad plant found at our MacIntyre Wind Farm in Queensland.
In fact, it is a remarkable example of coevolution, where these prehistoric plants and dinosaurs coexisted and mutually benefited from each other’s presence. Several cycad species gradually grew to the height of the long-necked sauropods, which consumed their seed cones as a dietary supplement. The cycads also developed toxins like macrozamine to prevent smaller animals from munching on the seeds. Only large species like the Stegosaurus, which swallowed the cones whole without chewing the seeds, could withstand the toxin synthesized by the macrozamias.
Millions of years later, one of these prehistoric plants, the Macrozamia conferta, has become the subject of a protection program to ensure its survival in a small region of Queensland, situated on the MacIntyre Wind Farm. Thanks to this initiative, these plants, which once coexisted with dinosaurs, will now be able to coexist with the latest generation of wind turbines.
The MacIntyre Wind Precinct is a 1GW project that will help the Queensland Government reach its targets of achieving 70% renewable energy by 2032 and thus contribute to the decarbonization of the economy.
However, for a project of this magnitude, the approach and execution of construction are as important as delivering the final result. What is the environmental impact? What animal and plant species are there in the area? What are the economic activities of the population? In what way, ultimately, can local communities be benefited by the project? Continue reading to learn about the project and how the MacIntyre Wind Farm is destined to become the sustainability standard of wind farms of the future.
Preserving the local biodiversity requires strategic thinking and a plan for future generations.
Protecting native fauna and flora is a fundamental aspect of our projects. During ecological surveys, it was discovered that the area in which the MacIntyre Wind Farm would be located was home to a precious and rare population of Macrozamia Conferta. And so, we needed to work out a solution to preserve these plants and maintain the local biodiversity.
Once the turbine locations had been determined, the next step was to evaluate the Macrozamia conferta specimens that would be affected and develop a plan to protect them. In the past, the Macrozamia conferta depended on dinosaurs for dispersal through digestion. However, modern populations of this species have issues with dispersal and are now typically found in specific, localized areas. Our technical team conducted extensive research on this unique plant at the site and actively sought out a new habitat where it could flourish.
The plan consisted of meticulous labelling, numbering, and reporting of each specimen that a team of environmental specialists would then translocate. The plants were received at a new site that had an existing population of Macrozamia conferta and the forest environment conditions. Original surveys predicted the population of Macrozamia conferta at the wind farm to be approximately 3,700 plants, however 12,548 specimens have been translocated.
In the case of Macrozamia conferta, there is a commitment to maintain and irrigate each plant for a minimum period of twenty-five to forty years. In turn, all the information obtained in research will feed back into research groups at the University of Queensland and future development project approvals.
Due to careful analysis of each specimen, the whole project has been a unique opportunity to better understand the genetic diversity of the plant that until now, has had little research on it. “[We’ve found out] a whole heap of stuff that we didn’t know before this project that we wouldn’t have been able to find out with [ACCIONA Energía’s] support,” explained Alicia Toon, UQ Population Ecologist involved in the macrozamia conferta translocation initiative.
The plan consisted of labelling, numbering and subsequent transfer by environmental specialists.
The protection of biodiversity is only one of the main concerns when building a renewable energy project. It is also important to consider the local communities and how we can help them reap social, economic, and technical benefits.
At ACCIONA Energía, we are collaborating with the Queensland community sectors that define the region’s present and future. We are working with local organizations, such as the Queensland Farmer’s Federation, to help them develop a production model that reduces carbon emissions and support them in terms of infrastructure, such as a well to water cattle or extinguish fires.
Secondly, our sponsorship program provides funding to local community organizations to encourage the development of projects that positively benefit the community. Some of the events and organizations we have sponsored through this program include the Regenerative Agriculture Symposium, and the Rural Doctors Foundation.
Thirdly, we believe that supporting new generations of students is sowing for the region’s future, and this is why we are working with the University of Southern Queensland to launch a three-year scholarship program for students.
Renewable energy projects are more than just infrastructure projects: they are a philosophy and a roadmap for a more sustainable future. In this sense, we are convinced that implementing a culture of sustainability must be the centre of any project. In addition to developing projects, our mission is to share the knowledge we have accumulated in the area of sustainability. MacIntyre Wind Farm demonstrates the potential of that philosophy.
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