The Queensland Government is establishing domestic manufacturing supply chains for renewable energy components required to build the super grid.
In line with this, the State Government calls for electricity equipment manufacturing businesses to assist in building the super grid.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said with investments totalling $62 billion from the public and private sectors over the next 15 years, the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, which was announced last week, lays out a route to change Queensland’s electrical network.
“$62 billion means a step change investment in wind turbines, solar panels, batteries, pumped hydro equipment and transmission lines. Delivering this equipment presents an incredible economic opportunity for Queensland,” Premier Palaszczuk stated.
According to the Premier, they want to take advantage of the opportunity by producing as much renewable energy machinery in Queensland.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said engagement with the business community eager to support Queensland’s transition to sustainable energy through domestic production would be made possible through the government’s Energy Manufacturing Opportunities Prospectus.
“Instead of importing the wind tower blades, we could be manufacturing them in Queensland and using them to build our SuperGrid and exporting them to the world. 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,” Deputy Premier Miles added.
He called Queensland industries and businesses to express interest in manufacturing renewable energy machinery.
“Whether that’s by expanding existing facilities to meet the demand, establishing a new manufacturing business, or moving operations to Queensland, we want to engage with you,” Deputy Premier Miles said.
Queensland will require about 2,000 wind towers and nacelles, over 7,000 wind tower blades, approximately 25 million solar PV modules, and nearly 7,000 batteries during the next 13 years.
The $62 billion Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, according to Minister for Energy, Renewables, and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni, demonstrates unequivocally the possibility of renewable energy Queensland has at its disposal.
“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,” Minister de Brenni said.
Minister de Brenni stated publicly owned power providers would collaborate with businesses to take advantage of this opportunity and create entirely new manufacturing supply chains to deliver this transformative infrastructure, thanks to the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan and the Buy Qld procurement strategy.
“We’ve already backed the construction of a hydrogen electrolyser plant in central Queensland, and we’re keen to get moving on batteries, transmission, electric vehicle, wind and solar farm component manufacturing, too,” Minister de Brenni added.
According to Deputy Premier Miles, the Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC) was hired by the government to carry out a private market-sounding process that would locate potential industrial possibilities.
“On behalf of the government, QTC is conducting a market-sounding process to look at the existing capability and readiness of Queensland businesses to do this work. Importantly, it will also convey to government the roles it could play in supporting the industry to bring the local manufacturing opportunities to life,” Deputy Premier Miles added.
