Queensland to set up renewable energy zones as part of $62 billion super-grid plan

• 1 year, 4 months ago (2023-07-11)
• David Flin

Australasia 56 Solar 272 Transmission 191 Wind 256

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The Queensland government has identified 12 renewable energy zones across the Australian state that will underpin its $62 billion plan to decarbonise its electricity supply.

Annastacia Palaszczuk, Premier of Queensland, said that she wanted wind, solar, and pumped hydropower projects to be concentrated in these zones and connected to a “super grid” of renewable generation, storage, and transmission lines by 2035. Queensland has a target to generate 80 per cent of its electricity from renewables by 2035, and to end its use of coal-fired power plants that same year.

Queensland is currently Australia’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, accounting for one-third of national emissions. Electricity generation makes up for one-third of Queensland’s emissions.

The twelve proposed zones are split into three regions: five zones in southern Queensland, four in central Queensland, and three in the north. The government said that about 22 GW of new solar and wind projects will be required by 2035 within the zones to meet the targets.