The Queensland Renewable Energy Council is launching a strategy aimed at accelerating projects in the sector and positioning the Sunshine State as a global energy leader.
The QREC points to more than 140 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects proposed in the state’s broader pipeline.
This includes almost 8GW of renewable generation and storage projects financially committed or already under construction – valued at more than $10.7 billion.
QREC chief executive officer Katie-Anne Mulder said the Queensland Renewables Growth and Investment Strategy provided the clarity and stability required to give investors confidence while ensuring communities remained at the centre of the energy transformation.
“Queenslanders have known the importance of renewable energy for decades; whether it has been the Southern Cross windmills to pump water on farms, bagasse from our sugar mills, or solar panels on the roofs of more than half of Queensland homes,” she said.
“On a larger scale, renewable energy offers much more for Queensland. Already, almost 30 per cent of Queensland energy is generated from renewable energy.
“Queensland has the strongest renewable pipeline in Australia. But to turn projects into jobs, infrastructure and investment, we need clear, market-led strategies that give certainty to industry, communities, and investors.”
The strategy includes a range of recommendations including expanding the LNP government’s Resources Cabinet Committee to cover energy and setting up a Queensland Wind Farm Transportation Group to implement logistics recommendations.
It also advocates providing targeted support for pumped hydro and establishing a state-level plan for end-of-life solar panels, including regional recycling hubs.
The QREC would like to see a Queensland Government Investment Prospectus developed to set out clear milestones for coal-fired power plant retirements and clarity on the role of government-owned corporations in the energy sector.
Ms Mulder said QREC was releasing the strategy to complement the Queensland Government’s work to develop its Energy Roadmap – expected to be released by the end of this year.
“This strategy is the rubber hitting the roadmap,” she said. “It’s the ‘how’ behind Queensland achieving economically-efficient emissions reduction.”
Last month, Treasurer and Energy Minister David Janetzki told a Budget Estimates hearing that: “We want to see a flood of private capital coming toward renewables here in Queensland”.
Ms Mulder said the strategy would help secure the private capital Queensland needs, underpinned by three key pillars:
1. Refocusing the energy system for long-term reliability and affordability,
2. Partnering with regional Queensland for a coordinated, value-driven transition, and
3. Creating a world-class development framework
“Fifteen practical recommendations set out a roadmap for Queensland to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy while ensuring regional communities share in the benefits.”