• The Palaszczuk Government will invest $500m in a portfolio of renewable energy projects across regional Queensland, helping the state meets its renewable energy targets
• The funds will be provided to publicly owned energy company CleanCo, to develop up to 2.3GW of new renewable energy projects.
• The major wind and solar projects will support up to 4,000 construction jobs and deliver enough clean energy to power the equivalent of every household in Brisbane

The Palaszczuk Government will invest half a billion dollars to propel the development of large-scale solar and wind projects, to help Queensland meets its renewable energy targets, and its commitment to maintain a majority share in energy generation. 

The investment capitalises on Queensland’s abundant sun and wind resources, and will significantly contribute to the state’s future renewable energy requirements of 70 per cent by 2032. 

The investment will also support up to 4,000 Queensland jobs throughout the duration of the projects’ construction, to be built in Central Queensland.

The investment puts Queensland government owned CleanCo on a path to supercharging its current portfolio of publicly-owned generation assets, to be connected via the state’s renewable energy backbone, the Queensland SuperGrid.

Quotes attributable to the Premier: 

“Today’s announcement will deliver a pipeline of jobs and training for the Central Queensland region, and provide critical support in building local supply chains, and supporting regional economic development into the future,” the Premier said.

“This is about future-proofing Central and regional Queensland, and ensuring continued investment to deliver jobs, and boost the economy.

“This half a billion-dollar investment in new renewable wind and solar projects will propel our government’s commitment to delivering more cheaper, cleaner renewable energy." 

Quotes attributable to the Treasurer:

“This funding will deliver a pipeline of training and skilled jobs to Central Queensland.

“It will provide critical support in building local supply chains and underpin future economic development in the region.

“Central Queensland’s biggest industries, including mining, manufacturing, and agriculture have all committed to reducing emissions.

“This clean energy will enable those businesses to plan for future growth.

“Importantly, this investment ensures Queenslanders continue to own the energy assets that will drive our renewable future."

Quotes attributable to the Energy Minister: 

“This investment directly reduces embedded emissions in products manufactured in regional Queensland, meaning our heavy industry remains highly competitive in the global marketplace and that equals job security. 

“We are inviting the world’s largest companies to call regional Queensland home by offering the best place to do business, especially when it comes to delivering clean, affordable and reliable power.

“As the world focusses on renewable energy, Queensland is leading the way, committing to enshrine into law our renewable targets, that will see the Sunshine State deliver 70% by 2032 and 80% by 2035.”

Quotes attributable to CleanCo CEO Tom Metcalfe:

“Central Queensland is the state’s industrial powerhouse and it needs reliable, affordable, clean energy solutions to drive future prosperity and industry development.

“That’s why a cornerstone of CleanCo’s renewable growth program is to support the decarbonisation of industry in Central Queensland, helping the region to thrive in a net zero future.

“This $500m investment will accelerate the development of a substantial program of local renewable energy projects which will provide much needed capacity to the SuperGrid, and enable CleanCo to provide our customers with unique, sustainable retail product offerings and support them on their decarbonisation journeys.”

Further information:

This initial investment will support the development phase of up to 2.3GW of solar and wind projects in Central Queensland. 

The development phase includes completing environmental, engineering and procurement plans, obtaining all approvals and includes First Nations engagement and partnership, community and stakeholder planning and approval for all transmission connections required to ready the projects for construction.