The Queensland Government is taking the first steps to enshrine the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan in law, today releasing draft legislation and calling for feedback.
The plan sets out a pathway to bring 22GW of new wind and solar projects by 2035, supported by grid-scale batteries and pumped hydro storage.
Independent analysis projects 100,000 jobs will be created through the transformation.
More than $62 billion of investment will be injected, at least 95 per cent in regional Queensland.
The draft Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Bill 2023 establishes the framework to provide clarity and certainty to consumers, workers, investors, and industry.
Renewable energy targets will be legislated: 50 per cent by 2030, 70 per cent by 2032, and 80 per cent by 2035.
The legislation will also support 100 per cent ownership of Queensland’s power line transmission and distribution network, and deep multi-day storage from the Borumba and Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro projects.
Queensland will also maintain its majority share of generation, currently averaging 54 per cent, while there will be a strong role for the private sector in delivering renewables, other storage assets, and innovative energy technologies.
A world-first Job Security Guarantee and Fund will secure energy workers’ access to jobs, training, and financial assistance.
The legislation set ups planning and governance frameworks to ensure an orderly transition – including Renewable Energy Zones, Queensland Energy System Advisory Board, Energy Industry Council, and the Queensland Renewable Energy Jobs Advocate.
Deputy Premier Dr Steven Miles said Queensland is set to become a global leader in renewable energy, whilst reducing energy system emissions by 96 per cent by 2040.
“We’re also building our local manufacturing capacity because we will need thousands of batteries, wind turbines, solar panels and kilometres of transmission lines – and we want that equipment built here in Queensland, so Queenslanders get the benefits.”
Views of stakeholders and community will refine the Bill, with definitions and methodology to be developed with unions, advocates, industry, and investors, with engagement already underway.
The closing date for feedback is 23 June 2023.
Fast facts
- The plan maps a path for 95 per cent of Queensland SuperGrid infrastructure investment in the regions, turbo-charging industry and manufacturing with 100,000 jobs by 2040. It includes two deep pumped hydro energy storage projects – 5GW Pioneer-Burdekin west of Mackay and 2GW Borumba Dam, west of the Sunshine Coast (noting other smaller scale battery and hydropower initiates are in construction or in planning stages)
- Publicly owned coal-fired power stations will evolve into clean energy hubs by 2035.
- The $4.5 billion Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund empowers publicly owned energy corporations to partner with industry to accelerate the clean energy transition.
- A new solar PV system is installed every 10 minutes in Queensland – and so dozens of community batteries are being rolled out to support our world-leading rooftop solar uptake.
