In a little over a decade the Sunshine State will abandon at least one fossil fuel.
The Queensland Government announced a new energy and jobs plan to stop coal dependance and transition towards solar, wind and hydroelectric alternatives.
“By 2035 Queensland when stage two comes online we will have no regular reliance on coal and be at 80 per cent renewable energy,” State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said in a public statement.
“We will keep our coal fired power stations as back-up capacity until replacement pumped hydro energy storage is operational … [and] we will be able to turn the [coal] stations back on if something goes wrong.”
Palaszczuk claims coal will no longer be required after the world’s largest 5 gigawatt pumped hydro scheme is constructed in Pioneer Valley, 70km west of Mackay. The project is also promised to ease activist concerns about an environmental theory that burning fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide emissions, which can influence long-term weather patterns.
“[The project] will supply half of Queensland’s entire energy needs with clean, reliable and affordable renewable energy,” she said.
“This plan makes Queensland the renewable energy capital of the world. It also takes real and decisive action on climate change.”
AMSJ can reveal the proposed development will dwarf the Snowy 2.0 Hydro Project, which has a capital expenditure exceeding $10 billion.
The premier revealed up to 39,000 affected coal workers have the following career options:
- working on the new super grid
- deploying flow battery technologies
- moving new gas to hydrogen power stations
- joining new maintenance hubs for renewables
- supporting CleanCo and other renewable expansions.
Biloela, Kingaroy, Rockhampton, Gladstone, the Darling Downs and other impacted mining communities will share in a $200 million downpayment from the state’s Regional Economic Futures Fund.
“This fund will support work with local communities to develop regional economic futures strategies for regions where existing coal plants are located,” Palaszczuk said.
However, the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) warned renewable energy is not advanced enough to supply non-stop power. Major electricity reliability risks will occur if coal is abandoned.
“As we are seeing in Europe if you do not get it right you get blackouts, and you get astronomical increases in energy costs,” QRC CEO Ian Macfarlane said according to News Limited.
Related articles
Mining giant approves electric driverless trucks
Electrifying mine heavy vehicle fleets is ‘unfeasible’ says report
World’s largest hydrogen truck outperforms diesel model
Mines order electric vehicles to improve safety.
Add Comment