Queensland poised to supercharge economy with clean energy

A massive $62 billion Energy and Jobs plan is transforming the Sunshine State into the nation’s renewable powerhouse - reducing emissions, creating thousands of jobs and unlocking new export opportunities

Queensland is charging ahead with a plan to totally transform the state’s electricity network, setting the scene for a future filled with opportunity and economic prosperity.

Energy Minister Mick de Brenni – a driving force behind Queensland’s plan to become a global clean energy superpower – says independent modelling forecasts that, by 2035, renewables will be boosting the State’s economy by around $25.7 billion each year.

“We’re laser-focused on maximising the benefits of every opportunity because the transition to renewables is already shaping up as the biggest economic boom since the industrial revolution,” he said.

“Queensland has an abundance of natural resources to not just meet but beat our renewable energy targets while also to help our trading partners right around the world to decarbonise.

“We’re thinking big … really big.”

Enter the $62 billion Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan – announced in September 2022. 

The plan sets clear, common-sense and achievable targets to lower emissions by accelerating the renewable energy transition, create local jobs, and unlock billions of dollars in industry opportunities.

“Powering Queensland industry with more reliable, more affordable, and much cleaner electricity enables us to unlock billions of dollars in critical minerals that the world needs to achieve their own clean energy ambitions.

“It also means we will be able to capture a greater slice of the renewables supply chain, from processing the minerals needed for EVs and grid-scale batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines, through to manufacturing more of that renewable componentry kit right here at home.

“And all that means more decent, secure local jobs, especially in the regions where once we have enough renewable energy feeding into the grid, those coal-fired powered stations will transition into Clean Energy Hubs.

“But that won’t happen until we reach that generation capacity. The transitions will happen in a measured and sequenced way that ensures Queensland keeps powering ahead.

“We are ensuring no one will be left behind – we are providing our existing publicly owned energy system workers with a Jobs Guarantee that will offer them the additional skills and training they need to play an ongoing role in powering our homes, businesses and industries.”

Research has proven that the most cost-effective way to generate electricity is by harnessing the sun, wind and natural resources that has already made Queensland internationally renowned.

Mr de Brenni says the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan will help maintain downward pressure on power bills making the State even more attractive to relocate existing large-scale industries, while also establishing new industries.

“It provides investors, and especially exporters, with great confidence that we can deliver the clean energy that will give them the green credentials they need to compete in world markets – it demonstrates that we have the policy settings right to deliver on our promises.

“Right now, Queensland has over 50 large-scale renewable energy projects either operational, under construction or financially committed. There are also over 50 projects taking shape in the fast-emerging clean energy field of hydrogen and ammonia.

“Green hydrogen and ammonia are an exciting opportunity to decarbonise our heavy haulage and mining sectors and global players are already here on are keeping a very close eye on Queensland.”

It’s clear that in Queensland, they certainly do think big. Here’s even more evidence …

“Queensland is home to the nation’s largest solar farm, we’re building the southern hemisphere’s largest wind farm, and we’re developing the world’s largest pumped hydro energy storage,” says Mr de Brenni.

“To connect it all, we are building Australia’s largest backbone transmission network – the new Queensland SuperGrid – to deliver our clean, affordable, and reliable Queensland power where and when it’s needed.”

To underscore the state’s reliability, Queensland’s plan includes building two mega-scale pumped hydro energy storage projects – one with west of the Sunshine Coast and another west of Mackay, which together could deliver up to 7 GW of long duration storage for Queensland.

“Pumped hydro systems store renewable energy generated at our wind and solar farms and, at times there’s not enough clean energy feeding into the system, it’s available on demand. They are like giant renewable batteries.”

Mr de Brenni says it would be remiss not to mention the myriad opportunities that extend right through the renewables supply chains.

“Rooftop solar, for example, is on many days throughout the year Queensland’s largest electricity generator. This opens the gate for innovation in the way we store that energy, whether it be grid-scale batteries, community and neighbourhood batteries, batteries to power our homes, and the role of electric vehicles as batteries themselves.

“It also means opportunities in developing the technology that makes our energy use more efficient, both at work and at home … and the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan supports that innovation too.”

Of course, creating a cleaner planet for future generations is every bit as important as affordable power bills and reliable electricity supply. 

Mr de Brenni says the action we take now will leave a legacy for future generations.

“Queenslanders care about the climate, they care about cost of living, and they care about protecting each other – our plan takes real action on all three.”