Queensland’s clean energy revolution already happening

There are 44 large renewable energy projects on the drawing board or already dotted around Queensland representing $10 billion worth of investment and 7000 jobs.

There are 44 of them – 44 large renewable energy projects on the drawing board or already dotted around this state representing $10 billion worth of investment and 7000 jobs.

And that’s merely the tip of the renewables iceberg in Queensland.

The sunshine state is also harvesting the sun for energy at record levels with 31 per cent of households now using solar rooftops.

There are now 14 Queensland postcodes in which over 50 per cent of households have rooftop solar .

Queensland wind and solar projects have also set some of the lowest prices for new power generation of any fuel source in Australia.

One of Australia’s biggest wind farm projects at Coopers Gap, west of Kingaroy. Picture: Dominic Elsome

The State Government points to the Coopers Gap wind farm in Queensland which has set a record low price of under $60/MWh.

There are massive projects underway in North Queensland combining solar and energy storage, including Lakeland (solar and battery storage), Kennedy Energy Park (solar, wind and battery storage) and Kidston (solar and pumped hydro).

Across the state local councils are gradually transforming their waste disposal systems into renewable energy while in Goondiwindi residential wastewater is about to be turned into renewable hydrogen energy.

The Goondiwindi project, undertaken by the local council in partnership with the Queensland University of Technology, will install a hydrogen production facility at the Goondiwindi Wastewater Treatment Plant, using electrolysis to break down wastewater into oxygen and hydrogen.

The council will use the resulting oxygen to improve the efficiency of its wastewater treatment, while the hydrogen will be sold on to local businesses as a renewable energy alternative.

Goondiwindi Mayor Lawrence Springborg said hydrogen has been identified as the fuel of the future.

“The technology we’ll be using isn’t necessarily new, but as far as we know it certainly hasn’t been used in this combination and towards this outcome before,” Cr Springborg said.

“We’re very excited to be one of the first councils in the country to be involved with this process and to look at innovative ways of turning what was a waste product into a renewable energy source for local industry.’’

Goondiwindi Mayor Lawrence Springborg says he is excited by the local hydrogen project. Photo Mark Cranitch.

Local Government Association of Queensland boss Greg Hallam, who has been monitoring regional development in this state for three decades, says the momentum behind renewable projects is unstoppable, driven almost exclusively by market forces.

“Globally, markets have already factored all this in – renewables are all pretty much all market driven now,’’ Mr Hallam says.

Among the many untold stories regarding this state’s commitment to renewables are the Queensland Treasury Corporation’s “Green Bonds’’ which have attracted strong global interest since they debuted in 2017.

Created as a financial tool to back the state’s transition to low carbon, climate resilience and an environmentally sustainable economy, QTC is now Australia’s biggest Green Bonds issuer.

Philip Noble, Chief Executive, QTC said volume and pricing achieved in recent expansion of the program showed strong demand from investors.

“The Queensland Government has continued to respond to growth in the green bond market by supporting the expansion of the QTC’s Green Bond eligible project and asset pool,’’ he said.

“The eligible project and asset pool has a mix of low-carbon transport, renewable energy and water infrastructure assets and is currently estimated at approximately $16.8 billion.”

Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Queensland Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni says the transition to renewables in Queensland is now in full swing.

Queenslanders would now reap the rewards of owning their clean energy assets for years to come.

“An affordable, reliable energy supply underpins our economic plan for post-Covid recovery, and renewables will play a central role,” Mr de Brenni said.

“Right now, renewables make up approximately 20 per cent of Queensland’s energy mix, and that figure will more than double over the next decade as we aim for 50 per cent by 2030.

“Queenslanders emphatically support more manufacturing and growth and that means we need cheaper power to support jobs growth in these emerging industries.

“We’re backing this by backing cheaper, cleaner, reliable energy sources.’’

Originally published as Queensland’s clean energy revolution already happening