Renewable energy abattoir project approved for central Queensland

A $308 million abattoir with its own renewable energy facility in central Queensland has been given the green light by the State Government.

Artist's impression of the solar-powered abattoir, due to be operational by 2021.

The project, to be built by the Asia Pacific Agri-corp near Gladstone, will feature a meat processing plant powered by its own on-site renewable energy facility and will be the first of its kind in Australia.

The solar farm will be on a 340-hectare site adjacent to the abattoir.

Once up and running, the facility will have the capacity to process up to 2,400 head of cattle per day.

Asia Pacific Agri-Corp managing director Daniel Daly said the addition of a renewable energy facility would make the beef processing plant viable.

Read the ABC Rural story by Rachel McGhee - “Renewable energy abattoir project approved for central Queensland.”

(The artist’s image of the proposed abattoir provides a view of a wonderfully “green” facility, but it is surrounded by and depends upon, it appears, and energy-rich infrastructure; an infrastructure that is wholly sustained by fossil fuels. As wonderful as the actual abattoirs maybe, it appears to be operating in isolation and so until it is supported by and linked to a low-energy infrastructure, it alone is of limited value. I guess, however, it is a start - Robert McLean).