How Wind Energy Is Transforming Australia's Energy Landscape

Australia's energy system is changing.

As the country increases renewable electricity generation and prepares for growing demand from electrification, wind energy is becoming an increasingly important part of the mix.

Wind power is already a major source of electricity in Australia. In 2025, wind generated 14% of the country's total electricity, while renewable sources collectively contributed 39.5%. Wind generation increased by 21% compared with 2024, making it the largest driver of growth in renewable generation that year.

But wind energy is about more than generating electricity.

It can help reduce dependence on fossil fuels, support Australia's emissions reduction goals, create opportunities in regional communities and form part of a more diverse and resilient electricity system.

So, how is wind energy transforming Australia's energy landscape?

What is wind energy?

Wind energy uses the movement of air to generate electricity.

Wind turbines have large blades connected to a rotor and generator. When the wind turns the blades, the generator converts that mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Wind turbines can be installed on land, known as onshore wind, or in marine environments, known as offshore wind.

Unlike fossil-fuel power stations, wind turbines do not need to burn fuel to generate electricity during operation.

This makes wind an important renewable energy technology as Australia transitions towards a lower-emissions electricity system.

Why is wind energy important for Australia?

Australia has significant wind resources across its states and territories.

Some of the country's strongest wind resources are located in regional areas, where large-scale wind farms can be developed alongside existing agricultural and other land uses.

Wind is also complementary to other forms of renewable generation.

Solar generation is strongest during daylight hours, while wind generation can occur at different times depending on weather conditions. Combining multiple renewable resources with transmission and energy storage can help create a more flexible electricity system.

This diversity is becoming increasingly important as coal-fired generation declines and electricity demand evolves.

The Australian Government's Capacity Investment Scheme is supporting investment in new renewable generation such as wind and solar, as well as clean dispatchable capacity such as battery storage. The scheme is designed to help Australia reach its target of 82% renewable electricity in the grid by 2030.

Wind energy is already transforming Australia's electricity mix

Wind energy is no longer an emerging technology in Australia.

It is already a major contributor to national electricity generation.

In calendar year 2025, wind supplied 14% of Australia's total electricity generation. On the country's major electricity grids, wind generation reached 39.6 TWh, up from 35.3 TWh in 2024.

Renewables overall supplied 42% of on-grid electricity generation in 2025, the highest level recorded for Australia's major grids.

The scale of this change is significant.

Australia's electricity demand is continuing to evolve as households, businesses and industries electrify more of their energy use. At the same time, ageing coal-fired power stations are progressively reaching the end of their operating lives.

This creates a need for new generation and supporting infrastructure.

Wind is one of the technologies helping fill that gap.

Wind energy and the transition away from fossil fuels

One of the most important roles of wind energy is its ability to generate electricity without direct fossil-fuel combustion.

When renewable generation displaces higher-emissions electricity generation, the emissions intensity of the electricity system can decrease.

Australian Energy Statistics show that fossil-fuel generation on Australia's major electricity grids fell from 174.2 TWh in 2020–21 to 152.6 TWh in 2025, while wind generation increased from 24.4 TWh to 39.6 TWh over the same period.

The relationship is not as simple as one wind turbine replacing one coal-fired generator. Electricity markets respond to demand, weather, network constraints, storage, generation availability and many other factors.

However, the long-term trend is clear: renewable generation is becoming a larger part of Australia's electricity supply while fossil-fuel generation is declining.

Wind power and climate change

Climate change is driven by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Electricity generation is one area where renewable energy can help reduce emissions by replacing some generation from fossil fuels.

Wind turbines do not produce direct greenhouse gas emissions from fuel combustion while generating electricity.

It would nevertheless be inaccurate to describe wind energy as completely emissions-free across its entire lifecycle. Manufacturing turbines, producing materials, transporting components, constructing infrastructure and eventually decommissioning assets all require resources and energy.

The more useful comparison is between the lifecycle emissions of different electricity-generation technologies.

On that basis, wind is a low-emissions electricity source and is an important part of Australia's decarbonisation pathway.

Wind energy and energy security

Australia's energy system has historically relied heavily on fossil fuels.

That dependence can expose electricity markets to fluctuations in fuel prices, supply conditions and international energy markets.

Wind energy uses a domestic and naturally replenished resource: wind.

Once a wind farm is operating, it does not need a continuous supply of coal or gas to generate electricity.

This does not make Australia completely independent of global energy markets or eliminate electricity-price volatility. Wind farms still rely on transmission infrastructure, operational systems, maintenance, financing and other inputs.

However, increasing renewable generation can diversify the country's energy supply and reduce dependence on fossil-fuel generation.

Wind energy, batteries and the modern grid

Wind does not operate alone.

As the share of variable renewable generation increases, Australia's electricity system also needs technologies that can balance changes in supply and demand.

Battery storage is becoming increasingly important in this role.

Large-scale batteries can store electricity when renewable generation is abundant and discharge it when demand is high or renewable output is lower.

This can help provide flexibility within a grid with increasing levels of wind and solar.

The Clean Energy Council reported that battery storage was one of the standout areas of Australia's energy transition in 2025, with significant growth in both household and utility-scale battery capacity.

Wind, solar, batteries and transmission therefore need to be considered as parts of an interconnected energy system rather than isolated technologies.

Wind and solar: complementary renewable resources

Wind and solar are often discussed together because they form two of the most important sources of new renewable electricity generation.

Solar panels generate electricity when sunlight is available, with output typically highest during the day.

Wind generation follows different patterns depending on local weather conditions.

This means combining wind and solar can help diversify renewable electricity supply.

Adding batteries, hydroelectricity and stronger transmission networks can further improve the flexibility of the system.

The result is not a single technology replacing another. It is an increasingly diverse electricity system built around multiple complementary resources.

The regional impact of wind energy

Large-scale wind projects are often located in regional and rural areas.

That means the energy transition can also create opportunities outside Australia's major cities.

Wind projects can generate demand for construction services, engineering, transport, accommodation, catering and other local services.

During operations, projects can support ongoing employment and procurement.

Landholders who host wind turbines may also receive payments under individual agreements, creating an additional source of income.

The economic and social outcomes vary from one project to another and depend on factors including project size, local procurement, employment, landholder arrangements and community engagement.

Wind projects and local communities

A successful renewable energy project needs more than a suitable wind resource.

It also needs to work with the communities in which it operates.

Responsible project development involves consultation, environmental assessment, consideration of cultural heritage, engagement with landholders and opportunities for local participation.

ACCIONA Energía has committed to the Clean Energy Council's Best Practice Charter for Renewable Energy Developments and publishes reporting on how it applies the Charter's commitments.

Its 2025 report highlighted initiatives associated with community engagement, First Nations participation, local benefits and environmental stewardship across its Australian renewable energy portfolio.

This reflects an increasingly important principle for the energy transition: renewable infrastructure should deliver value not only through electricity generation, but also through long-term relationships with the communities that host it.

The MacIntyre Wind Precinct

ACCIONA Energía's MacIntyre Wind Precinct in Queensland provides a clear example of how large-scale wind energy is changing Australia's energy landscape.

Located in the Southern Downs and Goondiwindi regions, the precinct is being developed as a hub for multiple renewable energy projects.

The 923 MW MacIntyre Wind Farm comprises 162 turbines across a project area of approximately 32,000 hectares. The current precinct also includes the proposed Herries Range Wind Farm, proposed Karara Wind Farm turbines and a proposed battery energy storage system.

MacIntyre was selected for its strong and consistent wind resource and its ability to support large-scale renewable electricity generation.

The project is also designed to coexist with agricultural land uses, with ACCIONA working with landholders as the project moves through construction, commissioning and rehabilitation.

MacIntyre's contribution to Queensland

MacIntyre is more than a renewable energy project.

It is contributing to local economic activity through procurement, employment and community investment.

As of March 2026, the project had procured more than $980 million in services, labour and materials from across Queensland, including more than $195 million with regional Queensland suppliers and $10.3 million with Indigenous businesses.

These figures illustrate how a large renewable energy project can create economic activity beyond the physical boundaries of the wind farm itself.

The project also includes local initiatives designed to create longer-term community benefits.

Building the next generation of the MacIntyre Precinct

ACCIONA Energía is now looking beyond the original MacIntyre Wind Farm.

The wider MacIntyre Wind Precinct is being expanded as part of the Southern Downs Renewable Energy Zone.

The proposed Herries Range Wind Farm could have a capacity of approximately 816 MW and up to 120 turbines. Construction is proposed to commence in late 2027, subject to the relevant approvals and project development process.

ACCIONA is also investigating the Karara Wind Farm, which has a proposed capacity of 103 MW, alongside a proposed 400 MW / 800 MWh battery energy storage system.

Together, these projects illustrate how renewable energy development is moving from individual generation assets towards broader renewable energy precincts combining generation, storage, transmission and community initiatives.

Supporting regional communities beyond energy generation

Renewable energy projects can create infrastructure that provides benefits beyond electricity generation.

At MacIntyre, for example, ACCIONA invested in a permanent telecommunications tower that improved mobile coverage for farmers and residents in an area that had previously experienced a mobile phone blackspot.

The $500,000 additional investment enabled public access to the tower and created a lasting piece of community infrastructure.

This is an example of how project infrastructure can help address local needs when developers work closely with regional communities.

Wind energy and Australia's electricity demand

Australia's electricity demand is evolving.

Population growth, increased cooling demand and the electrification of heating and transport are contributing to changes in electricity consumption.

Total Australian electricity generation reached approximately 286.8 TWh in 2025, an increase of 1.6% from the previous year.

As electricity becomes increasingly important across the economy, Australia needs new generation capacity.

Wind can help meet this demand while contributing to the transition towards lower-emissions electricity.

Transmission is essential to the wind energy transition

Generating renewable electricity is only part of the challenge.

The electricity must also be transported from where it is generated to where it is needed.

Many of Australia's strongest renewable resources are located in regional areas, sometimes a long distance from major population centres.

This makes transmission infrastructure critical.

Projects such as HumeLink are being developed to strengthen the electricity network and help connect new renewable generation to the grid.

ACCIONA and Genus are delivering HumeLink East for Transgrid between Bannaby in the NSW Southern Tablelands and Wondalga in the Riverina. The project includes 459 transmission towers and more than 6,000 kilometres of conductor.

The example highlights an important point: Australia's renewable energy transition depends on a connected system of generation, transmission and storage.

Onshore and offshore wind

Most of Australia's existing wind farms are located on land.

Onshore wind is an established technology with a growing project pipeline and extensive experience in Australia.

Offshore wind is a newer part of Australia's energy landscape.

Offshore wind farms are located in marine environments where wind conditions can offer strong and consistent resources.

The technology has significant potential, but developing offshore wind requires substantial investment in ports, vessels, transmission, manufacturing, marine construction and regulatory frameworks.

For the moment, onshore wind remains the more established part of Australia's wind industry.

The environmental considerations of wind energy

Wind energy is a renewable source of electricity, but renewable does not mean impact-free.

Wind projects need to consider a range of environmental issues during planning, construction and operation.

These can include:

• biodiversity and wildlife
• vegetation and habitat
• land use
• noise
• visual impacts
• cultural heritage
• construction impacts
• water management
• road and transport requirements
• end-of-life management.

Environmental assessments and mitigation measures are therefore an essential part of responsible wind farm development.

ACCIONA Energía's Australian projects incorporate environmental management and rehabilitation measures, including plans to reduce project footprints and restore land used during construction where appropriate.

Wind turbines and land use

Wind farms require substantial project areas, but the presence of turbines does not necessarily mean that all land within a project becomes unavailable for other activities.

At many onshore wind farms, agricultural activities can continue around turbines and associated infrastructure, subject to landholder agreements and project requirements.

This allows renewable energy generation to coexist with farming and other land uses.

The approach is particularly relevant in regional Australia, where renewable energy development is increasingly taking place alongside established agricultural industries.

How long do wind turbines last?

Wind turbines are designed to operate for many years, although their exact operating life depends on the turbine model, operating conditions, maintenance and other factors.

Once a wind farm reaches the end of its operating life, components can be removed, replaced, refurbished or repowered depending on the project.

Responsible end-of-life planning is increasingly important as the Australian wind industry matures.

Innovation is also emerging around the reuse and recycling of wind turbine components.

ACCIONA Energía's 2025 Best Practice Charter report, for example, highlighted its Turbine Made initiative, which uses decommissioned wind turbine blades in the creation of surfboards.

The future of wind energy in Australia

The future of wind energy will depend on more than the construction of new wind farms.

Australia will also need:

More transmission
To connect renewable generation with population centres and industrial demand.

More energy storage
To help balance variable renewable generation.

Faster and more coordinated planning
To enable projects to progress while maintaining appropriate environmental and community safeguards.

Strong local supply chains
To support construction, maintenance and regional economic development.

Skilled workers
To design, build, operate and maintain increasingly complex energy infrastructure.

Community partnerships
To ensure renewable energy projects create long-term value for the communities that host them.

The Clean Energy Council reported that 5.9 GW of new large-scale and rooftop renewable generation capacity was commissioned in Australia during 2025, including 1.4 GW of new onshore wind capacity. It also reported that financial commitments for new large-scale wind and solar generation declined substantially during the year, highlighting the need to maintain investment momentum.

This creates both an opportunity and a challenge for Australia's energy transition.

Australia's 2030 renewable energy target

The Australian Government has set a target for 82% of electricity on the grid to come from renewable sources by 2030.

Reaching that target will require substantial new investment in renewable generation, as well as transmission and dispatchable capacity such as batteries.

Wind is expected to make an important contribution.

The scale of the challenge also means Australia's energy transition cannot rely on a single technology.

Wind, solar, batteries, hydro, transmission and demand-side measures will all have roles to play.

How ACCIONA is contributing to Australia's wind energy future

ACCIONA Energía has been active in wind energy internationally for decades and is now delivering and developing major renewable energy projects across Australia.

The MacIntyre Wind Farm is one of the company's flagship Australian projects.

The 923 MW project is designed to form part of a wider renewable energy precinct in south-east Queensland, alongside future wind and storage developments.

ACCIONA's approach extends beyond construction.

The company develops, builds, owns and operates renewable energy assets and works with communities over the long term.

That means considering not only how much electricity a project can generate, but also how it can contribute to local economies, support communities and deliver responsible environmental outcomes.

Wind energy is transforming more than Australia's electricity mix

The transformation taking place in Australia's energy system is bigger than the construction of turbines.

Wind energy is helping reshape how electricity is generated, where infrastructure is built and how regional communities participate in the energy economy.

It is also driving new investment in transmission, storage, engineering, manufacturing, construction and operations.

The result is an increasingly interconnected energy system in which renewable generation forms the foundation for broader electrification and decarbonisation.

Frequently asked questions about wind energy in Australia

How important is wind energy in Australia?

Wind is one of Australia's major sources of renewable electricity. In 2025, wind generated 14% of Australia's total electricity, according to the Australian Energy Statistics.

Is wind energy growing in Australia?

Yes. Wind generation increased by 21% in 2025 compared with 2024. The Clean Energy Council also reported that 1.4 GW of new onshore wind capacity was commissioned during 2025.

How does wind energy help fight climate change?

Wind generates electricity without direct fossil-fuel combustion during operation. When it displaces higher-emissions electricity generation, it can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector.

Does wind energy make Australia energy independent?

Not completely. Wind can reduce dependence on fossil-fuel generation, but Australia's electricity system also depends on transmission, storage, other generation technologies, equipment, supply chains and international markets.

Can wind farms coexist with agriculture?

In many cases, yes. Agricultural activities can continue around turbines and related infrastructure, subject to project design, landholder agreements and other requirements.

What is the MacIntyre Wind Farm?

MacIntyre Wind Farm is a 923 MW wind project in south-east Queensland with 162 turbines. It forms part of the wider MacIntyre Wind Precinct being expanded by ACCIONA Energía.

What is the MacIntyre Wind Precinct?

The MacIntyre Wind Precinct is a broader renewable energy development that includes the MacIntyre Wind Farm and proposed additional wind and battery projects in the Southern Downs and Goondiwindi regions of Queensland.

What role do batteries play alongside wind energy?

Batteries can store electricity when renewable generation is available and release it at other times, helping balance supply and demand in a grid with increasing levels of variable renewable generation.

What is the difference between onshore and offshore wind?

Onshore wind farms are located on land, while offshore wind farms are located in marine environments. Australia has an established onshore wind sector, while offshore wind is a newer area of development.

Is wind energy completely emissions-free?

No. Wind farms do not produce direct fuel-combustion emissions during operation, but their manufacture, construction, transport, maintenance and end-of-life management all have associated environmental impacts and emissions.

Powering Australia's next energy chapter

Wind energy has become an established part of Australia's electricity system.

Its role will continue to grow as Australia adds renewable generation, expands transmission, deploys more energy storage and electrifies more parts of the economy.

For ACCIONA, wind energy is also about building long-term infrastructure that creates value for communities and supports Australia's transition to a lower-emissions energy system.

From the 923 MW MacIntyre Wind Farm to the broader MacIntyre Wind Precinct, ACCIONA is helping turn Australia's abundant wind resources into renewable electricity while investing in regional communities and the infrastructure needed for the next generation of Australia's energy system.

The Australian energy landscape is changing.

Wind is not the only answer, but it is becoming one of the country's most important pieces of the puzzle.