Squadron Energy has announced the appointment of former APA Group CEO and managing director Rob Wheals as its new CEO, with current CEO Jason Willoughby being appointed chairman.
Tattarang CEO John Hartman said he was pleased that two of Australia’s highest performing energy infrastructure executives are now at the helm of Australia’s largest renewable energy operator and developer.
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“Rob Wheals is highly respected for his strategic and purposeful leadership. He has a strong track record of building sustainable businesses with an inclusive, high-performance culture that drives results,” Hartman said.
“I congratulate Jason on his move to chairman. As well as operating five wind farms delivering 1.1GW, under his leadership Squadron is the only company to finance and start construction on a major wind project in Australia last year, we opened Bango Wind Farm and installed the first turbines at Clarke Creek Wind Farm.”
“Tattarang is proud of the significant role it is playing in Australia’s step-up to renewables through Squadron Energy.”
Willoughby, who was previously CEO of CWP Renewables, said as chairman he would take an active role working with regional communities where Squadron’s projects are located.
“This is a crucial time in Australia’s step-up to renewables and we will ensure that Squadron deepens its best practice approach to working with communities, so locals experience positive outcomes from the renewable energy transition and are able to contribute to it,” Willoughby said.
Wheals said Squadron Energy was committed to launching new projects that will deliver 14GW of renewable energy by 2030, the capacity of two thirds of Australia’s coal-fired power stations and enough electricity to power the equivalent of six million homes.
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On Monday, Squadron announced it would spearhead the establishment of a mechanism to cover future decommissioning costs, in response to requests by landowners.
While many wind farms will be extended or repowered, funds would be set aside to give landowners peace of mind that sites will be remediated, when required, decades later.
