Renewable energy zone investment welcomed by industry
ENVIRONMENT and economic lobby groups have welcomed plans from the State Government to set up a renewable energy zone (REZ) in the Darling Downs.
Toowoomba
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ENVIRONMENT and economic lobby groups have welcomed plans from the State Government to set up a renewable energy zone in the Darling Downs.
A REZ is the co-ordinated planning and construction of new grid infrastructure in areas that are rich in renewable energy resources such as wind and solar.
It is about connecting and planning multiple generators and storage systems in the same region, basically becoming the renewable energy equivalent of a power station, to secure the energy system.
The Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise group, Toowoomba's peak economic body, welcomed the news.
"Our region is already a renewable energy hotspot which has been made possible due to the significant grid infrastructure established from the more than $60b natural gas developments in the Surat Basin over the last 10 years," CEO Ali Davenport said.
"With 22 solar development applications approved plus the four proposed wind farms including Coopers Gap near Kingaroy, the Dulacca Renewable Energy Project and the MacIntyre Windfarm as well as the Wandoan Battery Project, which will be Queensland's largest battery, it's easy to see why the Darling Downs and Surat Basin is known as the energy capital of Queensland.
"We look forward to hearing the details from the Queensland Government about how much of the $145m they plan to invest across Qld will go to our region."
The move was also welcomed by Queensland Conservation Council director Louise Matthiesson.
"Renewable energy zones will accelerate and facilitate even greater long-term benefits by providing a framework for new renewable energy projects to connect to the grid, supporting local jobs, attracting investment and securing a steady pipeline of renewable energy projects in key regional hubs."
Though the Electrical Trades Union has been more critical of the move, calling on the government to guarantee future renewable energy generation projects are built, owned, and operated by the State Government.
"It is all very well announcing money for renewable energy zones … but if it is not backed up by further investment and a public ownership guarantee it would be nothing more than privatisation of our energy generation by stealth, where public money props up often overseas-owned private companies," ETU QLD NT State Secretary Peter Ong said.
"As a union that has fought tooth and nail to keep our public electricity assets in public hands, we will not sit back and see our state's electricity generation network privatised by stealth."