Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk recently announced a $62 billion Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, which is aimed at delivering cheaper, more secure and cleaner energy to the state. With lofty renewable energy targets in place, the plan is set to support the race to be completely renewable as a state.
Queensland, thanks to its abundance of sun, is already a massive player when it comes to residential rooftop solar but there are even bigger goals in mind and pumped hydro is set to play a big role.
What’s the plan all about?
The overarching targets that the plan is working towards are 70% of Queensland’s energy supply coming from renewable sources by 2032, and 80% by 2035. What’s different about these targets when compared to the more vague federal renewable commitments is that they will actually be legislated.
Some highlights of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan include the construction of two huge pumped hydro facilities. One will be at Pioneer/Burdekin and the other at Borumba Dam. It’s expected that these sites will be completed by 2035.
There are also plans for a ‘Super Grid’ to connect solar, wind, hydrogen and battery generators across the state. This should result in 22 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity.
Interestingly, especially for those campaigning against the use of coal-fired energy, Queensland also plans to convert all of its coal-fired power stations into clean energy hubs by 2035. Premier Palaszczuk stated that by 2032, the state would be at 70% renewable energy. When the larger pumped hydro station at Pioneer-Burdekin (known as The Battery of the North) comes online in 2035, the state will have no regular reliance on coal and be at 80% renewable energy.
