Year in Review: A look back at 2023

2023 has been another year for ACCIONA Australia marked by our activities supporting innovation, sustainability and people. Throughout the year, many project milestones were also achieved, preparing us for another big year ahead in 2024. 

ACCIONA in 2023: A Year of Highlights  

2023 has been another year for ACCIONA Australia marked by our activities supporting innovation, sustainability and people. Throughout the year, many project milestones were also achieved, preparing us for another big year ahead in 2024.   

January   

The year had an incredible start with ACCIONA once again being awarded, the ‘2023 Top Employer’ in Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, the US and Canada and in Chile and South Africa for the first time. This recognition is one of the most demanding and prestigious credentials worldwide in the field of corporate people management.  

February  

February witnessed a remarkable achievement with the Rookwood Weir project being acknowledged by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) and being awarded ‘Excellent Design Rating’. Additionally, ACCIONA received acknowledgement for its ongoing commitment to local jobs in communities. 

March

In March, ACCIONA commenced construction at Coomera Connector (second M1) which is Queensland’s biggest single road project, generating 1,000 jobs over the life of the project. Planned to inaugurate progressively in 2025, this project would alleviate congestion on the M1 and reduce travel times between Brisbane and Gold Coast. 

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) worked with ACCIONA Energía to host an event at the MacIntyre Wind Farm in Queensland. Year 10-12 female students from local schools were invited to attend and hear from females who work on site about their careers in construction. 

April 

ACCIONA Energía also launched a two-year program to support producers and growers in the Southern Downs and Goondiwindi regions of Queensland. With an aim to understand and manage their on-farm energy consumption and lower carbon emissions, this program educated farmers across these regions to reduce their costs and increase efficiency. 

ACCIONA assisted the National Gallery of Victoria in reducing their carbon footprint in another year of being the gallery’s sustainability partner. The NGV committed to a number of operational changes that have supported this reduction in emissions. 

ACCIONA Energía provided funding to the Gulya Academy in Gladstone, a First Nations after school program that allows students to make connections with each other and gives them an opportunity to engage with Elders, Community Stakeholders and community role models. 

May

In May, ACCIONA Energía replaced temporary telecommunications infrastructure at, MacIntyre Wind Farm with a permanent 4G Telstra tower. This investment not only improved project operations but also benefitted the wider community, improving the local connectivity in that area. 

We rounded off May with two panel discussions during the NGV’s Melbourne Design Week, that brought together industry leaders, innovators and educators. One panel was about the social and community impact of development projects, and the other was about transitioning Australia to renewables.

June

We kicked off June with participating in the 2023 Wind Industry Summit, where executives from ACCIONA Energía showcased our forward-thinking vision for renewable energy, emphasizing our commitment to innovation and sustainability.

In June, we also hosted an exclusive networking event at The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) which was attended by more than 150 guests. These guests were treated to an exclusive panel with the exhibition designer, India Mahdavi, and a preview of the 2023 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces: Pierre Bonnard.

July

ACCIONA Energía continued to work towards their commitment of driving sustainability initiatives and empowering and uplifting communities near our renewable energy projects. In July, we sponsored 99 community groups as a part of its 2023 Community Sponsorship Program.

ACCIONA was awarded the Majors Road Interchange Project Contract in Adelaide, South Australia. This achievement not only underscores our commitment to infrastructure development but also resulted in the creation of 245 jobs annually throughout the construction period of the project.  

August

ACCIONA Energía revealed plans for a new proposed project in Western Victoria the proposed Nyaninyuk Wind Farm, situated near Ballarat. This project not only signifies a significant step towards sustainable energy but will also serve to create numerous long-term jobs and promising career opportunities within the local community.  

In August, the opening of Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth in New Zealand opened and was celebrated with an official ceremony. 

September

This month, ACCIONA achieved a significant milestone as the Victorian Government chose the company to lead the delivery of the inaugural tunnelling package for the Suburban Rail Loop East project. ACCIONA will play a pivotal role as part of the Suburban Connect consortium, collaborating with esteemed partners CPB Contractors and Ghella.

As part of the company’s global initiative to plant one million trees over five years, ACCIONA Energía hosted a tree planting day local to one of our Victorian wind farms. The Central Otways Landcare group facilitated this day, which was attended by many of our employees. 

October

In October, we geared up as ASCEND, ACCIONA Energía’s solar vehicle developed in collaboration with Deakin, took off on the World Solar Challenge race. This race challenges teams to make the journey from Darwin to Adelaide using solar powered batteries. 

ACCIONA Energía also signed a 15-year, 380-Megawatt Power Purchase Agreement with Stanwell Corporation which entails the purchase of 100 per cent of the output from the planned Aldoga Solar Farm, situated 20 km north-west of Gladstone. 

November

In November, ACCIONA Energía made substantial announcements as it unveiled plans to commence construction of the Aldoga Solar Farm in early 2024. This ambitious 380MW project is set to be erected on land leased from Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) for the next 30 years. Anticipated to create approximately 350 jobs during the construction phase, the Aldoga Solar Farm is a testament to ACCIONA's ongoing commitment to advancing renewable energy initiatives and fostering economic development in the region.

ACCIONA marked a significant advancement in the use of innovative technology, an Australian first deployment of world leading transport technology. The ‘Blade Lifters’ are being used to transport blades at their MacIntyre Wind Farm, increasing efficiency and minimising the need for vegetation clearing.

December

ACCIONA concluded the year on a high note, capping off twelve months of dedication, hard work and success. 

In December, ACCIONA secured the Transgrid’s Humelink East Transmission Project. In collaboration with joint venture partner Genus, ACCIONA has been entrusted with the responsibility to deliver this crucial link in the National Electricity Market, marking a significant contribution to the energy infrastructure landscape.