Energy update

Queensland Microgrid Pilot Fund open

Energy and Renewables Minister, Mick de Brenni, launched the $10 million Queensland Microgrid Pilot Fund (QMPF) in late December 2022 to help accelerate resilient power supply in regional and First Nations communities and create more local jobs.

As one of the first initiatives to be delivered under the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, the two-year program offers grants for feasibility studies and projects that develop and deliver microgrids across regional areas of Queensland, boosting the network resilience of communities, including against extreme weather events.

Grants are available from $250,000 for feasibility studies and up to $5 million to build microgrid projects that meet the QMPF program objectives and eligibility criteria.

Successful projects under the fund are expected to boost local job opportunities during project development and construction, as well as operation and maintenance of these innovative power systems.

The fund is open for applications until March 2023. Visit the Queensland Microgrid Pilot Fund web page.

A new wind farm for Queensland

A major wind energy project is set to progress this year, with a 15-year deal signed between government-owned corporation Stanwell and a global renewable energy producer.

Construction is planned for the 330 megawatt (MW) Mount Hopeful Wind Farm from August this year, with the project expected to come online in 2026.

At the end of 2022, Stanwell signed the deal with renewable energy producer Neoen for 215 MW.

The site is located 50 km south of Rockhampton and is strategically located within the Central Renewable Energy Zone, near the Stanwell Power Station site.

The project is expected to create around 220 construction jobs, with up to 12 ongoing operational and maintenance roles.

Mount Hopeful Wind Farm is one of a number of strategic partnerships the corporation is pursing that supports its diversification strategy and aligns with the objectives of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.

Pumped hydro project engagement

Stakeholder engagement is continuing around the Borumba and Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro projects.

Queensland Hydro held information sessions for the Borumba Pumped Hydro Project in Imbil and Gympie in November 2022 to report on the results of hydrological and ecology studies and outline exploratory and access works starting in mid-2023.

The Borumba Stakeholder Reference Group gathered for its third meeting in November 2022, focussing on hydrology and ecology, traffic and transport, exploratory works and transmission corridors.

Over November and December 2022, Powerlink met with residents of Blackbutt, Gympie, Imbil, Jimna, Kilcoy, Kilkivan, Maidenwell, Nanango, Woolooga and Yarraman and received feedback on the proposed Borumba transmission corridors. Queensland Hydro supported Powerlink with these sessions.

Information sessions for the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project were held at Eungella and Finch Hatton in November 2022. The sessions focussed on project timeframes for geotechnical, environmental and hydrological studies.

Further meetings were held with environment groups as well as an Industry Forum for business about the Expression of Interest process. A meeting with the Traditional Owners followed in December 2022, to discuss cultural heritage assessments and environmental studies.

Engagement will continue during 2023 to better understand the impacts and benefits of pumped hydro.

Electrician Nathan values his work and colleagues at Swanbank E

Nathan Lawley thrives on the diversity of working as an electrician at CleanCo Queensland’s Swanbank E Power Station.

What starts as a typical work day can quickly change and Nathan rises to the challenge.

“I’ll come in with a plan and that plan has to change to assist a colleague with their job or to reprioritise another more important one,” Nathan says.

Nathan also values the supportive team culture that exists on site.

“The attitude and team cohesion within the workforce at Swanbank is second to none. This was evident to me as a contractor before I started here as a full-time employee and was a large motivator in applying for the job,” Nathan says.

Nathan completed a science degree before embarking on a career as an electrician and he encourages others to consider a trade, before or after university.

Hydrogen powering ahead in Queensland

Queensland continues to lead renewable hydrogen development in 2023.

Publicly-owned Stanwell is progressing the CQ-H2 project to Front End engineering Design (FEED), in keeping with the government’s publicly-owned power policy.

With Queensland Government funding of $15 million, the large-scale renewable hydrogen project aims to export hydrogen to Japan, and supply large industrial customers in Central Queensland.

CQ-H2 could deliver over $17.2 billion in hydrogen exports and $12.4 billion to Queensland’s gross domestic product over its 30-year lifespan, creating up to 8,900 new jobs.

Fortescue Future Industries’ Gibson Island ammonia facility has progressed to FEED, with potential to produce around 70,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually.

Their Gladstone Green Energy Manufacturing Centre (GEM) has commenced construction, and will initially manufacture 2 gigawatts (GW) of electrolysers per annum.

Also in Gladstone, Korea East West Power co-signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Australia’s Hydrogen Utility (H2U) to help fast-track the H2-Hub.

Once completed, the coordinated project will have a total capacity of up to 3 GW of electrolysis and up to 5,000 tonnes of green ammonia per day.

The Han-Ho Hydrogen Consortium is set to complete a feasibility study on the Collinsville Green Energy Hub which will have the potential to generate up to 3,000 MW of renewable energy per annum, once constructed.

Australia’s first Hydrogen Centre of Excellence

Australia’s first Hydrogen Centre of Excellence was officially opened in November 2022 by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick, Minister Mick de Brenni, Minister Di Farmer, and the Attorney General Shannon Fentiman.

This $20 million state-of-the-art vocational training centre was built in partnership with the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC) in Beenleigh.

It includes specialised gas training equipment, lower carbon technology upgrades, and is designed to provide training for more than 1,000 trainees and apprentices each year.

Queensland’s Hydrogen Centre of Excellence will help to ensure there is a suitably skilled workforce available to respond to the needs of future hydrogen projects.

The centre is one of four renewable and hydrogen facilities committed to by the Queensland Government. Other training centres include:

• $23 million Renewable Energy Training Facility at Pinkenba (recently opened)
• $10.6 million Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Training facility at Bohle TAFE campus in Townsville
• $2 million to upgrade training facilities at Gladstone State High School

Prefer a printed version of the Energy update?

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Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan

The Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, released in September, positions Queensland to deliver more clean energy and jobs in regional communities. The ambitious new Plan outlines our pathway to a clean, reliable and affordable energy system to provide power for generations.

It builds on the Queensland Government’s long-standing target of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, with new commitments of 70 per cent renewable energy by 2032, and 80 per cent by 2035.

Through the Plan, the government has made a $4 billion down payment on the state’s energy transformation. This Plan will deliver real and lasting benefits for Queenslanders, powering us towards a cleaner, renewable energy future and supporting around 100,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2040.

The Plan sets out a range of actions to drive investment; deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy to households and businesses; give certainty and deliver better outcomes to our workers and communities; and unlock opportunities for industry.

Visit qld.gov.au/energyandjobsplan for more details.

Building Queensland’s SuperGrid

As part of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, we’re building a ‘SuperGrid’ to generate, store and transport cleaner energy across the state – a transformation that will require $62 billion worth of public and private investment, creating an estimated 64,000 jobs by 2040.

By 2035, the SuperGrid will require around 25 gigawatts (GW) of new and existing renewable energy capacity, representing around 12 GW of new large-scale wind and 10 GW of additional large-scale solar generation. This production will drive demand for wind turbines, solar panels, batteries, pumped hydro equipment and transmission lines.

Because so much of this equipment will be procured by Queensland Government Owned Corporations, we have the chance to use our purchasing power to drive local manufacturing.

Our publicly-owned power companies will work with local businesses to enhance access to the government market for energy infrastructure, to help build entire new manufacturing supply chains.

A confidential market sounding process will be conducted to identify manufacturing opportunities. Businesses can register their interest in the market sounding via statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/energymanufacturing

Guaranteed support for energy workers

As Queensland moves towards its renewable energy future, the Queensland Government’s $150 million Jobs Security Guarantee will support workers in publicly owned coal-fired power stations, ensuring no worker is out of a job.

Under the guarantee, workers will have access to reskilling, transfers to new opportunities and advice on future career pathways.

The guarantee is backed by the new Energy Worker’s Charter, an agreement that supports and provides confidence to workers through the energy transformation. The charter is between unions, employers and government, and sets out principles and actions to support workers.

Future employment pathways for coal-fired power station workers include work on the new SuperGrid (e.g. electricians and line workers); jobs in maintenance hubs for renewables; jobs in building and deploying flow battery and other storage technologies; positions in new gas to hydrogen power stations; and jobs to support the expansion of renewables.

Savings for households and businesses

Through the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, the following measures are being introduced to put downward pressure on power prices for households and businesses:

• $638.5 million subsidy in 2022-23 to ensure regional Queenslanders pay a similar price as SEQ electricity customers
• $10 million for non-government organisations to help Queenslanders lower their bills
• $500 million to accelerate the rollout of more large-scale and community batteries
• delivery of a smarter grid to make it easier for households to connect their smart technologies (e.g. solar, batteries and electric vehicles)
• a new household program, including support for batteries, to further assist Queenslanders to manage their electricity use and bills
• $35 million Queensland Business Energy Saving and Transformation Program to help small and medium sized businesses save money on their electricity
• $7.1 million grant program for up to 400 small and medium sized manufacturers to incorporate energy efficiency measures.

Renewable energy training facility

A state-of-the-art new training facility for renewable energy will give workers the skills they need for the thousands of jobs to be created under the new Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk officially opened Electro Group’s Renewable Energy Training Facility at Pinkenba in October.

The Queensland Government’s investment of $17 million towards this $23 million training centre of excellence will help create a skilled future workforce to provide clean, reliable and affordable energy for Queenslanders.

The Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan will create around 100,000 jobs, so facilities like this are critical in developing the skills to build new clean energy infrastructure and industries.

The Renewable Energy Training Facility will provide world’s best practice in electrical, solar renewable energy and telecommunications training, creating a future-ready workforce and supporting our students to reach their full potential.

The investment was part of the government’s Queensland Economic Recovery Strategy: Unite and Recover for Queensland Jobs.

Queensland home to one of the largest wind farm projects

Queensland will be home to one of the largest wind projects in the world, with global energy company ACCIONA Energia announcing its new $2 billion wind project.

The 1,000-megawatt (MW) Herries Range Wind Farm will be built within the MacIntyre Wind Precinct, west of Warwick, bringing the total amount of renewable energy to 2,000 MW – enough to power 1.4 million Queensland homes.

The project will help to support the target of 70 per cent renewable energy by 2032, under the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.

The MacIntyre Wind Precinct, located in the Southern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone, will now include ACCIONA Energia’s MacIntrye and Herries Range wind farms, and government-owned

CleanCo’s proposed Karara Wind Farm.

Both the MacIntrye and Karara Wind Farms are expected to generate 400 construction jobs.

A further 220 workers will be needed to build Powerlink’s transmission infrastructure that, as part of the new SuperGrid, will deliver the clean energy from MacIntyre Wind Precinct to households.

Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan community events underway

Community information sessions for the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan (QEJP) are underway.

The Department of Energy and Public Works’ energy team visited Toowoomba last month where they held a boardroom briefing with industry stakeholders and an information session for local residents to outline the key benefits of the plan.

At the briefing they discussed the plan’s transformation pathway and explored the opportunities and challenges specific to the region. Manufacturing opportunities, investment and Queensland’s transmission journey were key topics raised.

At the community session, residents explored information displays and heard from presenters. Attendees asked about jobs and training opportunities, as well as how the plan can attract people to live and thrive within the region.

When surveyed about how they ‘feel about the future of energy’, 70 per cent of the audience responded with ‘optimistic’ or ‘excited’.

Local communities will have further opportunities to have their say on the energy transformation with consultation on the draft Regional Energy Transformation Partnerships Framework currently underway.

More regional community information events are planned in 2023. For updates visit the QEJP website.

Rebecca is on a journey as lead engineer for Energy Queensland

Lead engineer Rebecca is responsible for developing and reviewing strategies and processes for Energy Queensland to mitigate major power outages.

It’s a responsibility she values, particularly now the energy sector is undergoing rapid transformation.

“Until recently, the way we plan, design, build and operate the network has remained the same. But because of increasing rooftop solar usage and intermittent renewable generation on the distribution network, we are on a big learning journey to understand how to manage and operate a network with variable two-way power flows,” Rebecca says.

Rebecca has the training and experience to tackle these challenges. She was attracted to STEM subjects at school and commenced a traineeship at a small electrical design firm, before

completing a Bachelor of Engineering (Power).

“It’s a very exciting time to enter the industry. If you want to work as an engineer, my advice is to gain as much on-the-job experience as you can.”

Prefer a printed version of the Energy update?

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Fast-tracking more Queensland renewables

The Australian and Queensland governments have inked a landmark agreement to connect the country’s largest wind farm to the National Electricity Market and fast track even more new renewable generation in the nation’s largest renewable energy zone in construction.

The $160 million commitment from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation for the Southern Downs Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) will help power 700,000 Queensland homes and create hundreds of local jobs.

The Southern Downs REZ will host the MacIntyre and Karara wind farms and further stages.

National Energy Transformation Partnership

At the National Energy Ministers meeting, Queensland led a push to enshrine emissions reduction at the heart of the energy market as part of a landmark National Energy Transformation Partnership.

This is a huge win for Queenslanders, and for the climate, because it means we can now put emissions reduction alongside the economy as important considerations in building the electricity system.

The energy sector is Queensland’s largest carbon emitter and has a significant role to play in our path towards net zero emissions.

Reaching agreement between all States and Territories and the Commonwealth to accelerate drafting of the law changes, means change sooner.

Innovation draws Daniel to hydrogen sector

As the Future Energy Technical Manager at Ark Energy Corporation Pty Ltd, Daniel manages technical workstreams at two of its projects, including the SunHQ Hydrogen Hub.

Daniel enjoys working in a dynamic sector with an opportunity to innovate and continually learn.

“The hydrogen industry is still emerging, and everyone is looking for a solution. People are willing to look outside the box and try novel concepts,” Daniel says.

With innovation comes some challenges as the hydrogen sector matures.

“The best part of my job is the most challenging. The hydrogen industry is moving so quickly it’s hard to stay on top of current industry best practice,” he says. “It takes a lot of time to ensure you are up-to-date with the latest advancements.”

Daniel first completed a Bachelor of Engineering at university and, while working at an engineering consultancy, expanded his knowledge in renewables and hydrogen.

As our hydrogen supply chain grows, Daniel believes it’s the perfect time to get involved in the sector.

“The hydrogen industry is in an entrepreneurial phase at the moment and now is really the best time to get involved. Don’t be afraid to put your ideas out there in the industry.”

Renewables provide exciting opportunities for Leanne

As one of Powerlink Queensland’s power system operations Team Leaders, Leanne plays a key role in ensuring safe, secure and reliable energy transmission across the state as we head toward our 50% renewable energy target by 2030.

“We are managing the transmission network through the change to clean energy sources. It is fantastic to have the opportunity to be a part of this change and to learn how to manage a network that is diversifying into the area of renewables,” Leanne says.

Leanne’s role requires a broad diversity of skillsets to manage the changing network, making sure it is available for what is now a highly dynamic electricity market.

“The behaviour of the transmission network differs each day. The power network is affected by the type and number of generators connected, the time of day or year, weather, and even school holidays,” Leanne says.

It was Leanne’s experience growing up on the family farm that motivated her choice of career.

“As a child, I was fascinated by electricity. When you think about it, the power grid is a massive machine of interconnected moving parts, and so I love having the opportunity to be a part of it,” Leanne says.

Leanne encourages anyone interested to pursue a career in the energy sector if they crave the opportunity to positively impact people’s lives, look for variety in a workplace, and have a genuine interest in the exciting future of renewables in Queensland.

Apprentice linesperson is the perfect role for Kasey

Western Queensland local Kasey works as an apprentice Distribution Linesperson, helping to build, maintain and troubleshoot one of the world’s biggest electricity distribution networks.

Employed by Ergon Energy, Kasey enjoys making a real contribution to the Barcaldine community where she grew up and went to school.

“I work with an amazing team on projects which make a real difference to customers and my community. It’s exciting, the training is incredible, and everyone has been so accommodating and welcoming,” Kasey says.

The job is both rewarding and challenging with a lot of travel and long drives.

Before joining the energy sector, Kasey didn’t picture herself as a “distribution liney” and thought of apprentices as being plumbers, sparkies or hairdressers.

“I never saw myself as a tradie; now I’m eager to go to work each day to learn more,” Kasey says.

With a year left of her apprenticeship, Kasey continues to enjoy the mix of hands-on field work and classroom training and assessments.

“I’m in my third year and it’s far exceeding my expectations,” Kasey says.

Kasey encourages anyone looking for a great career to consider an apprenticeship as a distribution linesperson.

“If you have any interest at all, or don’t know much about the sector, ask. It might be the perfect fit for you!”

Leonard steps up to the energy storage challenge

Leonard is an Electrical Engineer at CleanCo Queensland, working at the Wivenhoe Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Power Station.

With a diverse role, Leonard is responsible for system asset management and optimising the output of power generation by implementing reliability maintenance strategies.

To do this, Leonard says it’s important for him to stay up to date with the latest technological advancements.

“Technology is always changing, such that I’m always learning and challenged by new ideas.”

Leonard thrives on the challenges that come with working on Queensland’s largest pumped storage hydroelectric power station.

“Availability of our two power generation units at Wivenhoe Hydroelectric Power Station has been above 99 per cent for a long time. As a team, we work together to ensure availability remains high,” Leonard says.

With a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, Leonard has carved out a career in an industry that continues to evolve.

“Most of the acquired knowledge and skills as an electrical engineer are applied in the energy industry.

“The Queensland energy industry offers stability and is where you get the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills while being kept on your toes by new challenges.”

Nation’s first hydrogen workforce plan launched

In July 2022, Minister Farmer delivered a nationwide first with the launch of the Hydrogen Industry Workforce Development Roadmap 2022-2032.

The roadmap is the first dedicated workforce development plan aimed at creating a skilled, hydrogen-ready workforce to support Queensland’s exciting and fast-growing hydrogen sector.

The roadmap has been developed in consultation with industry, skills and training, education, and regional development stakeholders from across Queensland. It sets out a range of short, medium and long-term actions to deliver a strong and adaptable workforce for a safe and thriving Queensland hydrogen industry.

Prefer a printed version of the Energy update?

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Queensland to host Australia’s first service station with a hydrogen pump

Construction has kicked off on Australia’s first co-located hydrogen refuelling station, with the newly constructed refueller set to open later this year at one of Brisbane’s busiest service stations, the BP Truckstop at the Port of Brisbane in Lytton.

This is the first hydrogen refueller to be built alongside an existing petrol station and will be a critical link on the east coast hydrogen superhighway.

The Queensland Government’s current fleet of five hydrogen-powered Hyundai NEXOs will be the first to use the new refueller.

The project will demonstrate how hydrogen refuelling stations can be safely integrated into the existing service station network, paving the way for more jobs in more industries and more infrastructure to facilitate hydrogen trucks and buses.

The hydrogen refuelling station will have capacity to refill a hydrogen car in three to five minutes.

Electricity rebate increased for vulnerable Queenslanders

Some of Queensland’s most vulnerable people will see lower electricity costs this year thanks to a boost in the Electricity Rebate to $372.20 per year. The rebate is provided to eligible Queensland households, pensioners, seniors, war veterans, low income households and asylum seekers.

This rebate is on top of the $175 Cost of Living Rebate for all Queenslanders that was announced in May 2022. The Cost of Living Rebate will appear on residential customers’ bills from September 2022.

This is all part of the Queensland Government’s plan to deliver cost of living relief for Queenslanders.

Over 10,000 EVs registered in Queensland

Queensland’s electric vehicle (EV) registrations have increased from 500 just five years ago to over 10,000 today, supercharging sustainable travel in our state.

We’re committed to making sure access to clean and efficient fuels is readily available to charge the increasing number of EVs in Queensland.

EVs will be able to charge up along our very own, publicly-owned Queensland electric superhighway. Queensland has over 7.7 gigawatts of renewable generation and has plans to triple this. This means that when Queenslanders charge up at one of the publicly-owned stations, they will be charging up with Queensland sunshine, wind and water.

The Queensland Government is also providing Queenslanders with a $3,000 rebate on eligible EV purchases, as part of the Queensland Government’s plan to increase zero emission vehicles across our state.

Affordable, cleaner, Queensland-made energy will make us a leader in renewable energy for transport, while creating thousands of jobs.

Work starts on MacIntyre Wind Farm

Work has officially commenced at the MacIntyre Wind Farm precinct, a 620-worker, $2 billion project that will include Queensland’s first publicly-owned and operated wind farm, and establish Queensland’s Southern Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).

The precinct will be one of the largest wind farms in the southern hemisphere, with the MacIntyre Wind Farm boasting 162 turbines and the Karara Wind Farm hosting a further 18 turbines.

The project is expected to create 400 project jobs during construction and support a further 220 transmission jobs.

With the capacity to supply the equivalent of nearly 700,000 homes, the project will substantially boost renewable energy supply in Queensland helping our industries, businesses and communities to achieve their sustainability goals.

Green data storage set for Moreton Bay

One of Australia’s largest proposed ‘green data’ storage facilities has been announced for the Moreton Bay region in a step forward for Queensland’s renewable and digital economies.

The supernode is an innovative new project planning to bring large-scale storage facilities for both data and battery energy to the one site. The project has the potential to be a $2.5 billion-plus investment, developed in stages on a 30-hectare site.

It also offers ample scope for powering our large-scale batteries with locally produced solar, wind and hydro sourced renewables, which will also power the data centre campus as it grows.

Large-scale data storage will support new jobs and allow the region to continue to boom in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Queenslanders harnessing the power of the sun

The uptake of solar and battery systems in Queensland is expected to soar in coming months in response to cost of living pressures, as Queenslanders harness the power of the sun to keep their power bills low.

Rooftop solar is the state’s largest power generator, with capacity more than twice that of Gladstone Power Station. From January to May 2022, 19,000 solar systems totalling 193 megawatts (MW) were connected. In total more than 708,000 Queensland homes have solar, which is around one in three homes.

As of May 2022, Queensland has:

• more than 4100 MW of small-scale solar capacity connected
• more than 739,000 solar systems, including over 708,000 residential systems
• more than 10,400 batteries totalling over 136 megawatt hours of capacity.

Large-scale batteries unlocking Queensland’s renewable energy future

In June 2022, the Queensland Government announced 13 large-scale batteries to be rolled out across the state. As part of the battery blitz, Queensland’s largest utility-scale battery will be built at Greenbank in an innovative partnership between Powerlink and CS Energy to deliver more reliable, affordable energy for Queenslanders.

The 200 MW / 400 megawatt-hour (MWh) Greenbank battery will be a game-changer in the way we operate the electricity grid. It will be critical for soaking up our sunshine and wind to feed into the system when Queenslanders need it.

After successfully installing five network-connected batteries between Townsville and Toowoomba, Energy Queensland will deliver a further 12 batteries across the state, each up to 4 MW.

Construction has also begun in Maryborough on Australia’s first, large-scale iron flow battery manufacturing facility, creating hundreds of jobs across the region. The $70 million, state-of-the-art big battery manufacturing centre is being developed by Energy Storage Industries – Asia Pacific (ESI).

The facility will help boost energy supply, support local jobs and drive down power prices. When fully operational in 2026,

ESI aims to have up to 500 highly skilled employees and contractors working throughout regional Queensland.

Prefer a printed version of the Energy update?

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Cost of living support for Queenslanders

This year, thanks to continued public ownership of our assets, Queensland households are set to receive a $175 Cost of Living Rebate later in 2022. The rebate includes the $50 asset ownership dividend announced earlier this year. The Queensland Government has increased this assistance for households in response to the extra cost of living pressures many Queenslanders are facing. The rebate will be automatically credited and will appear on residential customers’ bills later this year.

Hydrogen in Queensland

There is no slowing down for the hydrogen industry in Queensland, with more steps being taken to secure the state as a leader in the new global renewable energy era. In May 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Port of Rotterdam in The Netherlands to collaborate on opportunities to develop a hydrogen export supply chain.

Domestically in Queensland, a $35 million Hydrogen Industry Development Fund continues to provide funding to the private sector for the development of renewable hydrogen projects. Recently approved projects in Round Two of the fund will demonstrate the commercial viability of using green hydrogen to transition to new technology that will help to decarbonise the transport industry. Approved projects include:

• Emerald Coaches – Up to $2.7 million for Emerald Coaches to integrate two hydrogen fuel cell electric buses into its fleet in the Bowen Basin
• Sealink Ferries – Up to $5 million for Sealink Ferries to develop a world-first hydrogen fuel cell passenger ferry to transport workers between Gladstone and the LNG facilities on Curtis Island.

The fast pace at which projects like these are developing has highlighted the importance of ensuring that the workforce for emerging jobs in the green hydrogen industry is prepared by having the right safety guidelines in place. In May 2022, the draft Hydrogen Safety Code of Practice was released for consultation, making Queensland the first state in Australia to develop a clear pathway for hydrogen safety system compliance.

Queensland Renewable Energy Zones (QREZ)

From September 2021 to January 2022, we undertook two key pieces of QREZ consultation – the state-wide Community Consultation Paper and accompanying survey for Queenslanders to have their say on renewable development; and the Technical Discussion Paper on QREZ design and access for industry input.

Results indicate strong support for renewable energy, with more than 86% of participants wanting to see more renewable energy in their region with the three most supported technologies being solar, battery and wind farms. There was also overwhelming support for having clear local benefits principles to help guide renewable project development with 97% of survey respondents in favour of ‘buy local, build local’ and ‘local jobs and secure work’, and 95% supporting ‘genuine and ongoing engagement’ and ‘shared benefits with communities’ as guiding principles.

Feedback from industry on the proposed model for QREZ design and access overwhelmingly supported the development of QREZ and generally agreed with the proposed approaches to planning, notice and declaration. Respondents highlighted the importance of prioritising community engagement and community benefits to maintain and grow community acceptance.

The combined feedback shows that, in developing QREZ, the Queensland Government can play a key role in coordinating investment that expands Queensland’s renewable generation capacity while delivering benefits for its regional communities. We will be engaging further with communities on local benefit opportunities and working with industry to further the design and implementation of the QREZ framework. Summaries of feedback and findings, along with public submissions, will be made available on the department’s website.

Pumped hydro energy storage

The Queensland Government is investigating a potential pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) facility at Borumba Dam. A range of engineering, environmental, geological, hydrological and commercial studies are being undertaken by Powerlink, and will be completed throughout 2022. In June 2022 the Queensland Government committed an additional $13 million to broaden the scope of the feasibility studies for the project. This follows an initial investment of $22 million for the studies.

Community and stakeholder engagement is a key priority for the project, with more than 130 residents attending community drop-in sessions in Imbil and Gympie in April 2022 to learn about the proposed project. The next community drop-in sessions will be held in July 2022 in Imbil and Gympie.

The project’s first stakeholder reference group meeting was also held in Gympie in April 2022, with Minister de Brenni attending. This group is a consultative forum made up of organisations and individuals who represent environmental, conservation, economic, recreational and community interests.

In June 2022 the Queensland Government allocated $35 million for additional studies to identify a second PHES site in Queensland. Studies will commence with a desktop analysis of potential sites, followed by specific site-based investigations, environmental and social assessments, engineering design and cost analysis.

National Battery Testing Centre $15 million investment

In June 2022, the Queensland Government announced a $15 million investment to scale up the National Battery Testing Centre (NBTC), based in Banyo on Brisbane’s northside. The NBTC tests various types of batteries, including lithium-ion and redox flow batteries made in Australia or internationally. The $15 million investment in the NBTC is expected to leverage up to $35 million in university and industry investment, providing a total funding injection of approximately $50 million over five years.

As we move to a more diversified energy system, batteries are critical to stabilising the grid and improving demand flexibility. The investment will give Queensland-based battery manufacturers access to much-needed testing services right here in Brisbane, boost jobs and support the growing renewables supply chain in Queensland.

Queensland’s energy future

The Queensland Government has been widely consulting with industry stakeholders on the next phase in our clean energy future that will continue to be backed by majority Queensland Government ownership.

Our energy plan to be released later this year will inform the pathway of delivering affordable, cleaner, and reliable power. We are committed to delivering our 50% renewable energy target by 2030; positioning and delivering Queensland for net zero by 2050; and delivering a climate positive Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Queensland Government will lead this energy transformation through billions in investment in hydrogen, clean energy generation, transmission, distribution, and storage infrastructure.

Achieving our renewable energy targets

We are delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable energy solutions for Queenslanders. In 2015, we started a renewable energy boom in Queensland to reduce emissions, create new jobs and diversify the state’s economy by establishing a 50% renewable energy target by 2030.

Prefer a printed version of the Energy update?

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Queensland Energy Transformation

Queensland’s renewable energy investment took another major step forward on 17 March with $192.5 million allocated to Wambo Wind Farm near Dalby from the $2 billion Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund.

Through publicly-owned energy company Stanwell, Queenslanders will own 50 per cent of the 252 megawatt (MW) wind farm located in the Southern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone (QREZ).

Looking ahead, the Queensland Energy Plan will deliver long-term energy transformation for Queenslanders and set our pathway to provide cleaner energy to power more jobs and industries.

The plan will identify initiatives to reach our 50% renewable energy target by 2030. It will also leverage our public ownership and create certainty, allowing Queensland householders and businesses to benefit from a reliable energy network built on clean power made in Queensland by Queenslanders.

Consultation on the energy plan has commenced with industry and members of the Ministerial Energy Council, with their views sought on the critical elements of a successful plan.

Hydrogen in Queensland

2022 is shaping up to be another big year in hydrogen for Queensland with a large pipeline of projects planned, focussed

on both domestic production and exports.

On 22 March we committed $28.9 million from the Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund to the construction of CS Energy’s Kogan renewable hydrogen demonstration project.

The project includes co-location of a solar farm, battery, hydrogen electrolyser, hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen storage, and out loading facility as well as hydrogen refuelling facilities to be located nearby in Chinchilla and Charlton. It will use behind-the-meter solar energy to produce 50 000 kg of renewable hydrogen when operational in 2023 – making it one of the few truly green hydrogen projects in Australia.

CS Energy’s project brings to five the number of hydrogen refuelling projects in development around the state, signalling the start of a Queensland Hydrogen Super Highway.

Queensland’s super highway will also link with New South Wales and Victoria under a landmark tri-state agreement to collaborate on a hydrogen refuelling network for heavy transport and logistics along the eastern seaboard.

On 25 March, Energy Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the refuelling corridors starting with the Pacific Highway, Hume Highway and Newell Highway.

Queensland Renewable Energy Zones (QREZ)

The Southern QREZ kicked off development on 17 March with the announcement of a $170 million connection agreement between publicly owned Powerlink and the 1 gigawatt MacIntyre Wind Precinct.

The MacIntyre Wind Precinct consists of two wind farms, with the 102 MW Karara Wind Farm to be built, owned, and operated by publicly owned renewable energy generator, CleanCo. CleanCo has a power offtake agreement with Acciona for the neighbouring 923 MW MacIntyre Wind Farm.

The Northern QREZ kicked off development in May 2021. We announced $40 million would be invested to upgrade

transmission lines between Cairns and Townsville, unlocking up to 500 MW of renewable capacity. The first new project connecting to the REZ is Neoen Australia’s $370 million 157 MW Kaban Green Power Hub wind farm.

Consultation is under way to deliver the first stages of QREZ investment. Following on from initial community input, a Technical Discussion Paper on QREZ design and access was released for industry feedback in November 2021.

More than 60 responses were received from a wide range of stakeholders including renewable energy developers and generators, community interest groups, environmental groups, local governments, and market bodies. Results of the engagement will be used to inform the continuing development of the QREZ framework throughout 2022.

Borumba Dam pumped hydro

We are investing $22 million for a detailed design and cost analysis to determine Borumba Dam’s suitability for a pumped hydro energy storage facility. Powerlink has been selected to carry out detailed studies with analysis to consider environmental, social and economic impacts.

On-site ground testing commenced in February 2022, with geotechnical investigations primarily focused on the proposed location of the new dam wall, the upper reservoir and the underground power station.

Community and stakeholder engagement is a key priority for the project to help deliver not only the best outcomes for Queensland, but also the local community. More than 150 residents attended a series of community drop-in sessions in Imbil and Gympie in December 2021 to learn about the proposed project. The next community drop-in sessions will be held on 20 and 21 April 2022 in Imbil and Gympie.

Future fuels

Queensland’s sustainable bio-ethanol and biodiesel mandates are increasing the uptake and availability of ethanol fuels and kick-starting the supply chain for biodiesel.

Since 2017, the 4% ethanol mandate has stimulated growth, with E10 sales and investment by service stations more than doubling since 2016.

Our 0.5% biodiesel mandate has also stimulated investment by major ferry terminals with new infrastructure in South East Queensland kickstarting the supply chain.

Nevertheless, petrol costs have been steadily rising. It now costs anywhere from about 10 to 15c/km to fuel a standard car. Comparatively, it costs around 2c/km to run a car on electricity. That is why more Queenslanders are purchasing electric vehicles (EVs), with registrations more than doubling to over 8,000 in 2021.

We have well established goals to give Queenslanders access to high quality EVs and the necessary supporting infrastructure. This will in turn decarbonise transport, reduce emissions and enhance transport networks.

Achieving our renewable energy targets

The Queensland Government is delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable energy solutions for Queenslanders. In 2015, we started a renewable energy boom in Queensland to reduce emissions, create new jobs and diversify the state’s economy by establishing a 50% renewable energy target by 2030.

Prefer a printed version of the Energy update?

Download a copy of the March 2022 update (PDF, 2342.47 KB).

Queensland hydrogen projects

The Queensland Government has assisted in excess of 50 hydrogen projects as part of the Queensland Hydrogen Industry Strategy 2019–2024, a five-year plan to grow the hydrogen industry in Queensland.

More than $60 million has already been committed across multiple initiatives to help stimulate the hydrogen supply chain and support future hydrogen jobs in Queensland.

Projects include Ark Energy’s first hydrogen hub, located in Townsville, along with a $5 million grant to Sun Metals to commence hydrogen production in North Queensland. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Port of Townsville and Ark Energy has the potential to spur renewable hydrogen exports of up to 120,000 tonnes to South Korea in the next decade.

Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund

In June 2021, the Queensland Government established the $2 billion Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund. The fund allows energy government-owned corporations to increase ownership of commercial renewable energy and hydrogen projects, as well as supporting infrastructure, including in partnership with the private sector.

The fund will ensure Queensland capitalises on economic development opportunities for more jobs and more industries through cheaper, cleaner energy.

Queensland Renewable Energy Zones (QREZ)

The Queensland Government has committed $145 million to establish three Queensland Renewable Energy Zones (QREZ) in northern, central, and southern Queensland. Combined, these will unlock more than 3,300 megawatts (MW) of renewable capacity in these regions, and form just the first stages of QREZ development.

The Northern QREZ kicked off development in May 2021, with the government announcing a $40 million investment to upgrade transmission lines between Cairns and Townsville, unlocking up to 500 MW of renewable capacity. The first new project connecting to the REZ is Neoen Australia’s 157 MW Kaban Green Power Hub wind farm, worth over $370 million.

Consultation is underway to deliver the first stages of QREZ investment. Following on from initial community input, a Technical Discussion Paper on QREZ design and access has been released.

The Technical Discussion Paper presents the desired QREZ model attributes and how this model corresponds to renewable energy zones at the national and jurisdictional levels. Industry stakeholders are invited to provide feedback by 14 January 2022.

Borumba Dam Pumped Hydro

The Queensland Government is investing $22 million to investigate the potential to construct pumped hydroelectric energy storage at Borumba Dam, located 70 kilometres south-west of Noosa in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Borumba Dam was identified as a potential pumped hydro site through the Queensland Hydroelectric Study, as part of the Powering Queensland Plan. Detailed cost and design analysis, including engineering and design, hydrological modelling, geological testing, and assessment of environmental impacts commences soon. These studies will take around 24 months to complete.

Residents in the Gympie and Mary Valley regions are invited to learn more about the proposed Borumba Pumped Hydro Project, with community information sessions to be held in early December 2021.

Decarbonising Remote Communities

Under the $3.6 million Decarbonising Remote Communities program, four Indigenous communities in Queensland’s far north have had renewable energy systems installed to reduce their use of diesel power. More than 5,500 Queenslanders can now access cleaner, cheaper renewable energy.

At completion, the program has installed 1,000 kilowatts of solar and 32 kilowatt hours of battery storage across 28 council-owned buildings. The switch to solar will collectively save around $170,000 on electricity costs, 392,000 litres of diesel use and more than 1,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, each year.

Achieving our renewable energy targets

The Queensland Government is delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable energy solutions for Queenslanders. In 2015, we started a renewable energy boom in Queensland to reduce emissions, create new jobs and diversify the state’s economy by establishing a 50% renewable energy target by 2030.

Prefer a printed version of the Energy update?

Download a copy of the November 2021 update (PDF, 2935.26 KB).

Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund

In June 2021 the Queensland Government established the $2 billion Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund. The fund allows energy government-owned corporations to increase ownership of commercial renewable energy and hydrogen projects, as well as supporting infrastructure, including in partnership with the private sector.

The fund will ensure Queensland capitalises on economic development opportunities for more jobs and more industries through cheaper, cleaner energy.

Queensland Renewable Energy Zones (QREZ)

The Queensland Government has committed $145 million to establish three renewable energy zones in northern, central, and southern Queensland.

The Northern QREZ kicked off development in May 2021, with the government announcing a $40 million investment to upgrade transmission lines between Cairns and Townsville, unlocking up to 500 megawatts (MW) of renewable capacity. The first new project connecting to the REZ is Neoen Australia’s 157 MW Kaban Green Power Hub wind farm, worth over $370 million.

In August 2021, the Department of Energy and Public Works released a community consultation paper, identifying four proposed local benefit principles for community feedback. An online survey is available on the department’s website until 30 September 2021 for community and stakeholders to have their say about the proposed principles.

Borumba Dam Pumped Hydro

The Queensland Government is investing $22 million to investigate the potential to construct pumped hydro energy storage at Borumba Dam, located 70 km south-west of Noosa in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Borumba Dam was identified as a potential pumped hydro site through the Queensland Hydroelectric Study, which the government commenced in 2017 as part of the Powering Queensland Plan.

In August 2021 Powerlink commenced a tender process to secure technical expertise to conduct a detailed cost and design analysis including engineering and design, hydrological modelling, geological testing, and assessment of environmental impacts. These studies will commence in the second half 2021 and will take around 24 months to complete, with final outcomes expected mid-to-late 2023.

$50 Electricity Asset Ownership Dividend

As part of the Electricity Asset Ownership Dividend, Queensland households will receive another $50 off their upcoming electricity bill. The next dividend, the fifth since 2018, will be automatically credited, appearing on residential customers’ electricity bills from September to November 2021, depending on individual billing cycles.

Around 2 million households will receive the $50 payment, including homeowners, tenants, customers who receive an electricity bill from their landlord or body corporate, and customers in communities with card-operated meters.

The department has been liaising with retailers and embedded network providers to finalise arrangements to facilitate the delivery of the dividend to Queensland households.

Electricity Tariff Adjustment Scheme

On 1 July 2021, Ergon Energy Retail automatically switched regional business customers on obsolete electricity tariffs to standard business tariffs.

Recognising the significantly higher electricity bills some of these customers face, in June 2021 the Queensland Government announced the Electricity Tariff Adjustment Scheme, which provides eligible customers with individually-tailored transition rebates for up to nine years.

Decarbonising Remote Communities

Under the $3.6 million Decarbonising Remote Communities program, four Indigenous communities in Queensland’s far north have had renewable energy systems installed to reduce their use of diesel power.

At the program’s conclusion in September 2021, more than 1 MW of solar and 32 kilowatt hours (kWh) of battery storage will have been installed, collectively saving local councils around $170,000 each year on electricity costs.

Achieving our renewable energy targets

The Queensland Government is delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable energy solutions for Queenslanders. In 2015, we started a renewable energy boom in Queensland to reduce emissions, create new jobs and diversify the state’s economy by establishing a 50% renewable energy target by 2030.

Prefer a printed version of the Energy update?

Download a copy of the August 2021 update (PDF, 3571.27 KB).

The Queensland Government is focussed on managing the state’s energy resources to deliver affordable, reliable and sustainable energy solutions for Queenslanders.

In 2015, we started a renewable energy boom in Queensland to reduce emissions, create new jobs and diversify the state’s economy by establishing a 50% renewable energy target by 2030.

Queensland now boasts 44 large-scale renewable energy projects (operating, under construction or financially committed). This represents $9.9 billion of investment, 7000 construction jobs, 5,156 megawatts of clean energy and more than 12.6 million tonnes of avoided emissions each year.

Combined with rooftop solar, the state has 6700MW of renewable energy capacity, putting downward pressure on electricity prices.

As at January 2021, around 20% of electricity used in Queensland is produced from renewable energy sources.

Northern Queensland renewable energy boost

Northern Queensland is powering ahead, with two major renewable projects announced in 2021.

Neoen Australia’s 157 megawatt Kaban Green Power Hub wind farm has been announced as the first major project connecting to the northern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone (QREZ). The $373M project will create 250 construction jobs in generation and transmission infrastructure. The Queensland Government will also invest $40M towards upgrading transmission lines between Cairns and Townsville to support new projects in the northern QREZ.

Genex’s Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project is the state’s first pumped hydro storage project in almost forty years. With construction starting in 2021, the project will generate 250 megawatts of electricity and create more than 900 construction jobs. The Queensland Government will invest $147M to enable new transmission lines to connect the project to the main electricity grid.

Apprenticeships – energy government owned corporations

Apprentices in Queensland’s energy government owned corporations are helping power Queensland’s economy.

Apprenticeships are located across Queensland and cover electricians, communications technicians, distribution linespersons and underground cable jointers. Energy Queensland is the largest employer of apprentices in the state and is leading the way with new technologies, such as alternative energy solutions and smart grids.

Apprenticeships offer excellent training and development programs, to nurture the talent that will drive our ongoing success. As we build the network of the future to power Queensland’s economy, apprentices are making a difference to the way power is supplied in our communities.

Energy Savers Plus Program Extension (ESPPE)

180 Queensland farm businesses are set to achieve average energy efficiency savings of up to 38% on their annual energy use and will receive collectively up to $1.9 million to implement energy efficient measures. Already 63 businesses have saved significantly on their bills and received collectively up to $885,000 to assist in implementing the efficiency measures.

The ESPPE supports Queensland primary producers by identifying ways to reduce energy use and maximise productivity to lower electricity costs. Queensland farm businesses participated in the free on-farm energy audits and could also apply for a 50% government co-contribution (up to $20,000) to cover the cost of implementing the audit recommendations.

Fuel Price Reporting Program

Thanks to the Fuel Price Reporting Program, Queensland motorists can download an app to search for the cheapest fuel from over 1,550 servos in the state. The program can save motorists who shop around up to $171 a year each at the bowser.

Motorists are estimated to have collectively saved about $12.3 million a year in South East Queensland due to the competitive pressure on fuel prices attributable to the program. Drivers are also checking fuel price apps and websites more than 700,000 times per month, which is more than double the rate compared to when fuel price reporting started.

Prefer a printed version of the Energy update?

Download a copy of the June 2021 update (PDF, 3356.22 KB).

The Queensland Government is focussed on managing the state’s energy resources to deliver affordable, reliable and sustainable energy solutions for Queenslanders.

In 2015, we started a renewable energy boom in Queensland to reduce emissions, create new jobs and diversify the state’s economy by establishing a 50% renewable energy target by 2030.

Queensland now boasts 44 large-scale renewable energy projects (operating, under construction or financially committed). This represents $9.9 billion of investment, 7000 construction jobs, 5,156 megawatts (MW) of clean energy and more than 12.6 million tonnes of avoided emissions each year.

Combined with rooftop solar, the state has 6200 MW of renewable energy capacity, putting downward pressure on electricity prices.

As at January 2021, around 20% of electricity used in Queensland is produced from renewable energy sources.

National rule change for solar

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is consulting on a national rule change to ensure energy from small scale solar, batteries and other distributed energy resources (DER) is more efficiently integrated into the electricity grid to maintain a careful balance of supply and demand.

Successful integration will ensure customers can continue to benefit from connecting their solar to the grid. Submissions on the rule change are open until 13 May 2021 and can be made through the AEMC’s website.

The Queensland Government supports a regulatory framework that promotes the benefits of DER for all electricity customers and supports the continued uptake of DER across the state in line with our 50% Queensland Renewable Energy Target.

Apprenticeships – energy government owned corporations

Apprentices in Queensland’s energy government owned corporations are helping power Queensland’s economy.

Apprenticeships are located across Queensland and cover electricians, communications technicians, distribution linespersons and underground cable jointers. Energy Queensland is the largest employer of apprentices in the state and is leading the way with new technologies, such as alternative energy solutions and smart grids.

Apprenticeships offer excellent training and development programs, to nurture the talent that will drive our ongoing success. As we build the network of the future to power Queensland’s economy, apprentices are making a difference to the way power is supplied in our communities.

Energy Savers Plus Program Extension (ESPPE)

180 Queensland farm businesses are set to achieve average energy efficiency savings of up to 38% on their annual energy use and will receive collectively up to $1.9 million to implement energy efficient measures. Already 63 businesses have saved significantly on their bills and received collectively up to $885,000 to assist in implementing the efficiency measures.

The ESPPE supports Queensland primary producers by identifying ways to reduce energy use and maximise productivity to lower electricity costs. Queensland farm businesses participated in the free on-farm energy audits and could also apply for a 50% government co-contribution (up to $20,000) to cover the cost of implementing the audit recommendations.

Fuel Price Reporting Program

Thanks to the Fuel Price Reporting Program, Queensland motorists can download an app to search for the cheapest fuel from over 1,550 servos in the state. The program can save motorists who shop around up to $147 a year each at the bowser.

Motorists are estimated to have collectively saved about $8 million a year in Brisbane and $9.8 million a year in South East Queensland due to the competitive pressure on fuel prices attributable to the program. Drivers are also checking prices on petrol apps and websites more than 600,000 times per month, which is almost double the rate compared to 2 years ago.

Prefer a printed version of the Energy update?

Download a copy of the April 2021 update (PDF, 4179.06 KB).