Queensland seeks to develop renewables supply chain

Queensland is looking to spur domestic manufacturing for renewable energy generation after last week it unveiled an ambitious plan to revamp its electricity network.

The Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan envisages AUD 62 billion of public and private investment over the next 15 years. Its objectives include building a SuperGrid that will connect solar, wind, battery and hydrogen generators across the state, unlocking 22 GW of new renewable capacity and building two big pumped hydro facilities. The plan also sets a 70% renewable energy target by 2032.

As much of the spending on wind turbines, solar panels, batteries and other equipment will be done by Queensland government owned corporations, the state wants to use its purchasing power to support local manufacturing, according to an announcement today.

“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,” said Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles.

“By applying our Buy Queensland procurement approach to the SuperGrid construction we can aggregate demand for components that have traditionally been wholly imported, and instead start an industrial scale manufacturing revolution,” said Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni.

The state government has tasked the Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC) with conducting a confidential market sounding process to identify manufacturing opportunities.

Businesses are being invited to register their interest as part of this effort. The results will be presented to the government in March 2023 and used to inform a release of requests for proposals later in 2023, said Miles.

I want to see “Made in QLD” on the wind turbines, solar panels and batteries that will power 70% of our state by 2032.

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) October 3, 2022

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk wrote on Twitter: “I want to see “Made in QLD” on the wind turbines, solar panels and batteries that will power 70% of our state by 2032.”

Today, the Queensland government also announced the energisation of a 157-MW wind farm, which is now connected to the SuperGrid.

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