NQ can still win in Grand Final week with Energy Plan release
Townsville Enterprise and key energy stakeholders are urging the State Government to have a strong focus on North Queensland’s world-class renewable energy resources in the State’s 10-year Energy Plan released this week.
The Premier has declared that this week’s State of State Address will include the “biggest announcement in the energy and climate change space.”
Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith said we anticipate the State’s 10-year Energy Plan announced this Wednesday will include long-term planning and major investment requirements for North and North West Queensland.
“Study after study identifies North Queensland as having the best renewable energy resources in Australia,” said Mrs Brumme-Smith.
“Our region has the brains and world-class resources to support the government’s commitment to achieving the renewable energy target of 50% by 2030. We want to work with the government to achieve and exceed these targets in the coming years and decades. This plan is critical for that.”
“North Queensland is on the way to becoming a major renewable hydrogen hub, with our region boasting the best natural resources, critical minerals, existing infrastructure and proximity to major export markets. The CSQ Renewable Energy Report forecasts that Northern Queensland will be the most cost-effective place to produce hydrogen in Australia.”
“We have more than 35,000 megawatts of wind and solar resources to be harnessed above ground and current projections show the region could provide a total economic output of $1 billion annually, from production of up to one million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2040.”
“The content of this plan is critical for the future of North Queensland and North West Queensland. It will lay the foundation for the energy transition as well as unlock skills, jobs, and economic potential for the region and for generations to come.”
“Projects such as CopperString 2.0 are going to be crucial to connect world-leading renewable energy zones to the national grid, and provide affordable and reliable energy to the increasingly important North West Minerals Province.”
When the Premier announced the initiative for the 10-year Energy Plan last year in Townsville she said “My government backs the development of the North West Minerals Province to provide the critical energy minerals the world needs because that means more jobs in North Queensland... We have the unique opportunity to support a clean energy industrial ecosystem from the North West Minerals Province through to Townsville.”
What North Queensland needs from the Queensland Energy Plan
- Transmission Lines and Substations
- Common User Infrastructure between Lansdown and the Port of Townsville.
- Townsville Port Expansion Investment
- Education and Training Investment for the renewable energy and other emerging green industries
Deputy Director of Solar Citizens, Stephanie Gray said there is a strong expectation that the plan will deliver for North Queensland.
“North Queensland has some of the country’s best co-located solar and wind resources as well as key mineral deposits to make clean energy. The region could be a clean manufacturing powerhouse, making solar panels batteries, and renewable hydrogen,” Ms Gray said.
“To unlock the huge jobs and economic potential, the region needs more transmission infrastructure so that more local solar, wind, and storage projects can connect to the grid.”
