Raising the Bar: Windlab’s Next Chapter in Renewable Energy

In this episode of Exploring Clean Energy, Andy is joined by Nathan Blundell, Chief Development Officer at Windlab. Together, they explore how one of Australia’s leading renewable energy developers is raising the bar for wind and hybrid projects nationwide. They discuss Windlab’s journey from CSIRO spin-out to a fully integrated developer, the realities of project timelines and approvals, best-practice community engagement, biodiversity net gain, grid connection challenges, and two major Queensland projects set to shape the next phase of Australia’s clean-energy transition.

Episode topics & timestamps
00:00 - Welcome: How Windlab began, its CSIRO origins, and the evolution of wind development in Australia
02:05 - The integrated model: From mapping wind to delivering and operating full-scale renewable projects
05:10 - Development lifecycle: Why five to ten years is realistic and how early community engagement reduces risk
08:30 - Data and bankability: From LiDAR and met masts to ensuring project certainty
11:10 - Community engagement: Listening before telling, regional focus, and building trust early
16:05 - Common community concerns: Managing change, benefits, and consultation fatigue
19:40 - Industry reputation: Why one poor project can tarnish the whole sector. Windlab’s focus on raising the bar.
22:20 - Approvals and the EPBC process: Reform, complexity, and the need for certainty
26:50 - Biodiversity net gain: Practical examples from Windlab’s Gawara Baya project in North Queensland
30:00 - Site selection: Wind profile, demand centres, grid constraints, and coexistence with agriculture
33:15 – Technology improvements and turbine scale: 6-8MW turbines, 150m hub heights, and the limits of logistics
37:10 - Construction logistics: Workforce, site access, and the legacy benefits of upgraded infrastructure
40:00 - Rising costs: Global pressures, local solutions, and the power of competitive procurement
44:00 - Grid innovation: Turning connection risk into advantage with in-house grid engineering
48:10 - Project pipeline: Gawara Baya and Bungaban projects —Queensland’s next major renewable builds
52:00 - Policy reform: Implementing EPBC changes and “finding a way to do the good things that we must do”
55:00 - The decade ahead: Delivery, scale, and getting match-fit for the 2030s
57:30 - Follow Windlab: Staying informed via LinkedIn, project websites, and newsletters

Guest bio
Nathan Blundell is the Chief Development Officer at Windlab, leading a $30 billion portfolio and 20 GW development pipeline across Australia. Since joining in 2021, Nathan has overseen some of the nation’s most significant renewable energy projects, including the North Queensland Super Hub, Bungaban Wind, which secured Australia’s largest renewable PPA and Gawara Baya, the first project in the country designed around a biodiversity net-gain strategy. With over 20 years in the global energy sector, Nathan brings deep industry insight and a strong commitment to doing renewables the right way - delivering projects that respect Country, support communities, and protect the planet.

Links
Windlab: windlab.com
Nathan Blundell (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/nathan-blundell-b1601142
Windlab (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/company/windlab