Extract from ABC News
The world's biggest pumped hydro scheme will be built and coal-fired power stations will progressively become "clean energy hubs", under a $62 billion energy plan announced by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Key points:
- Ernst and Young estimated the government's energy and jobs plan will support nearly 100,000 more jobs
- The Premier says the projects are of "national significance" and bigger than Snowy Hydro 2.0
- Ms Palaszczuk says existing coal-fired power stations would gradually become clean energy hubs from 2027
Ms Palaszczuk unveiled the state government's new 10-year energy plan, which she said was estimated to support nearly 100,000 jobs by 2040, in her CEDA State of the State address.
She also said the state government's new renewable energy targets — of 70 per cent by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035 — would be enshrined in legislation, and Queensland "will have no regular reliance on coal" by 2035.
"We must invest now. Not just for our climate," she said.
"We must address this issue at the same time we focus on new job opportunities to bring everyone along with the clean energy industrial revolution at our doorstep."
She said the $62 billion of investment up to 2035 would be between the public and private sectors, including a "new down payment [today] of $4 billion committed by our government over the next four years".
Project 'bigger than Snowy Hydro'
The energy plan includes two pumped hydros by 2035: the first at Borumba Dam, and a second site, announced today, situated 70 kilometres west of Mackay.
Known as the Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project, Ms Palaszczuk said "I prefer to call it the battery of the north".
"It will be the largest pumped hydro energy storage in the world, with 5 gigawatts of 24-hour storage and the potential for stage 1 to be completed by 2032," she said.
"I would like you to picture that these combined projects would position Queensland's hydro storage as a percentage energy use above Europe, China or the US.
"These are projects of national significance on a scale not seen since the construction of Snowy Hydro — bigger than Snowy Hydro."
She also said there would be a new transmission "super grid" to connect renewable storage with established regional centres.
Currently about 21.4 per cent of electricity used in the state comes from renewables.
Ms Palaszczuk said the state could not reach net zero without storing renewable energy to make it reliable.
"And with climate change there will be more unseasonal rain and other weather events that impact on the reliability of renewables," she said.
"These events can last for days — current battery technologies can't at scale.
"That's why more pumped hydro energy storage is needed."
Coal-fired power stations to become clean energy hubs
Ms Palaszczuk said existing coal-fired power stations would gradually become clean energy hubs from 2027.
"Infrastructure at the clean energy hubs will include: continuing to use the large spinning turbines at the power stations to provide strength for the energy system to take more renewables; grid scale batteries; gas and then later hydrogen power stations; and maintenance hubs for nearby government-owned renewable wind and solar farms," she said.
"That means that these energy hubs will continue to contribute to regional economies."
She said the government would not convert coal power stations "until there is a replacement firmed generation".
Ms Palaszczuk also announced there would be a "energy workers charter and jobs security guarantee", which the government would sign following her speech today.
"The jobs security guarantee will be backed by a $150 million funding commitment," she said.
"The guarantee will support workers with access to reskilling, transfer to new opportunities and advice on future career pathways.
She said these pathways could include work on the new super grid, jobs in maintenance hubs for renewables, and building and deploying flow battery technologies.
The state government would build transmission and training hubs in Gladstone and Townsville "that will support 570 workers each year".
Ms Palaszczuk said modelling by Ernst and Young estimated that overall, the government's energy and jobs plan "will support nearly 100,000 more jobs".
'A great step towards decarbonising our electricity grid'
Ariane Wilkinson, Great Barrier Reef program manager for the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) Australia, said the announcement demonstrated it was never too late to take climate action.
"In terms of climate damage, there's a lot of damage that's been done that can't be reversed," Ms Wilkinson said.
"But the reality is that there's so much that can be saved, and so much about our way of life that can be protected, and this is a really good step to keep emissions down, protect our way of life, and stop further climate damage that will occur with a continued reliance on polluting fossil fuels.
"This is certainly going to protect Queensland, particularly the Great Barrier Reef, and it's a great step towards decarbonising our electricity grid."
Maggie McKeown, climate and energy campaigner with Queensland Conservation Council, welcomed the plan, but urged the state government to continue networking with stakeholders.
"The key to a plan like this is ongoing community and expert consultation," Ms McKeown said.
"Every year more Queenslanders want greater climate action — we hope that the government will be able to consult closely with community and experts over the next 10 years.
"This marks a major turning point for the Queensland government and is going to leave behind uncertainty and unlock a major pathway to renewable energy and replacing the majority of our coal-fired power stations by 2035.
"It's a great, great plan."
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