Tasmanian landowners & Gamuda combine to develop clean energy portfolio

01 Jul 2025 | Gamuda Australia

Gamuda’s wholly owned Australian subsidiary, Gamuda Holdings Pty Ltd, has signed a landmark agreement with local Tasmanian landowners to co-develop a portfolio of large-scale renewable energy projects in Central Tasmania. The portfolio represents a combined capacity of 600 MW of wind and solar energy generation and up to 600 MW of battery storage (BESS).

Weasel Solar Farm is a proposed 250 MW solar + BESS project led by local landowners to connect to an existing 220 kV transmission line on-site. The land is currently used for agricultural purposes and will continue to support sheep grazing alongside the solar farm.

The portfolio, which currently includes Weasel Solar Farm and Cellars Hill Wind Farm, has been led by prominent Tasmanian landowners, the Downie Family with development partner Alternate Path. The Downie Family has held pastoral land in Tasmania for over 200 years, and Peter Downie is a respected community member and renewable energy advocate.

As a landowner-led project portfolio, the project planning has been developed in close collaboration with local landowners, community and government to be sensitive to the local environment and deliver local community jobs and benefits, including energy rebates to households within a 12km radius of the portfolio.

Gamuda will take an equity stake in the portfolio to secure development rights for the current and future projects and deliver them under sole-source Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contracts. This will set the company up with a pipeline of energy construction work through to 2029. The agreement is subject to Foreign Investment Review Board approval.

Cellars Hill Wind Farm is a proposed 350 MW wind + BESS project. The wind farm will share the same connection point as the Weasel Solar Farm project.

Central to its equity investment in the portfolio, Gamuda is committed to continue the landowner-led principles of the portfolio which will be delivered in partnership with the Downie Family and Alternate Path.

Peter Downie said the deal was a win-win-win for landowners, the community and Gamuda. “We have been highly selective in finding the right partner to work with us to develop this portfolio that brings both a financial and technical contribution and is wholly committed to the strong social licence and landowner-led principles of these projects. We have been in discussion with Gamuda for many months and have seen their genuine partnership approach and commitment to our community values. We’re excited to move forward together to deliver these projects for the benefit of Tasmanians,” Mr Downie said.

Gamuda has been increasing its capacity and capability in the energy sector over the last 18 months to leverage Australia’s clean energy transition. The company’s strategy has been to invest in “shovel ready” solar and wind projects while also selectively bidding for EPC contracts in solar, wind, pumped hydro and transmission projects.

The company is currently engaged under Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) agreements for Alinta Energy’s Oven Mountain Pumped Hydro Energy Project in NSW and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partner’s Capricornia Energy Hub in Queensland.

Gamuda’s Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, Jarred Hardman said the Central Tasmania portfolio perfectly fits Gamuda’s energy strategy to become a leading end-to-end developer, builder, and owner of energy assets to accelerate Australia’s clean energy future.

“This deal represents our first Australian investment and aligns with our goal to invest and construct high-quality energy projects to diversify and grow our Australian business. This builds upon our ongoing success in the Australian infrastructure market where we are delivering a $4.5bn pipeline and is supported by our energy experience across a range of projects internationally,” Mr Hardman said.

Subject to further planning and development processes and approvals, construction of Weasel Solar Farm is estimated to commence in FY 2027 and Cellars Hill Wind Farm in FY 2028.