Townsville is set to become the home of Queensland’s first Local Renewable Energy Zone (LREZ), a groundbreaking initiative aimed at revolutionising the way renewable energy is generated, stored, and shared within the community.
The Queensland government has committed $40 million to fund this pilot project, which is scheduled to commence in January 2025.
The Townsville LREZ will enable households with rooftop solar to transfer excess energy generated during the day into local batteries.
This stored energy will then be redistributed to additional households during peak evening hours when solar panels are not producing electricity.
This innovative system will allow more residents, including renters and those in social housing, to benefit from clean, affordable energy, even if they cannot install rooftop solar themselves.
The project will involve the deployment of up to 8.4MW/18.8MWh of battery storage and support an additional 2.8MW of solar PV and 0.9MW of demand management.
It will also optimise behind-the-meter customer assets such as solar PV, batteries, home energy management systems, and dynamic connections.
Mick de Brenni, Queensland’s Minister for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs, emphasised that the LREZ project will put control of energy into the community’s hands.
He stated: “This exciting LREZ initiative, which is the first of its kind in Queensland, puts everything on the table, including more affordable power, access to the benefits of rooftop solar for renters, and innovative network solutions.”
The Townsville LREZ is part of a broader initiative that includes another LREZ project in Caloundra, announced the previous week.
These projects are expected to stimulate clean energy business opportunities and job growth in the region.
Energy Queensland’s Chief Engineer, Peter Price, highlighted the transformative potential of LREZs, stating that they could triple the capacity to connect residential rooftop solar to electricity networks.
He added that the pilot projects in Townsville and Caloundra would provide valuable insights into creating a smart, integrated electricity network with customers at its centre.
The LREZ initiative is complemented by Energy Queensland’s ongoing battery program. The company has received approval for an additional 18 local network-connected batteries across the state, funded by a $240 million budget commitment.
This represents Stage 5 of the battery program, building on the 30 local network-connected batteries and three flow battery systems already deployed or under construction.
As Townsville prepares to lead the way in local renewable energy innovation, the LREZ project promises to deliver not only environmental benefits but also economic advantages to the community.
It represents a significant step towards Queensland’s renewable energy goals and showcases the potential for community-driven clean energy solutions.
