The Crisafulli Government this month has unveiled its Energy Roadmap to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for Queenslanders.
By improving Queensland’s existing energy assets while building what is needed for the future, the Crisafulli Government is putting downward pressure on energy prices, optimising investment to respect taxpayer money and boosting private sector investment in new generation.
The Roadmap presents a sensible and pragmatic plan to meet Queensland’s energy needs, contrasting with the undeliverable timeframes, poorly scoped projects and tens of billions of dollars in cost blowouts under Labor’s implausible Energy and Jobs Plan.
It also reduces energy system costs for taxpayers by $26 billion to 2035, preventing the average Queensland household paying an extra $1035 a year that they would have paid under Labor.
The Roadmap includes:
- $400 million Queensland Energy Investment Fund and Queensland Investment Corporation’s new Investor Gateway to drive private sector investment in new energy generation and firming projects.
- $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee to improve our current energy assets.
- Clear decision-making framework for the operation of state-owned coal assets, balancing system needs, asset integrity, and economic viability.
- A tender for 400MW of new gas-fired generation in Central Queensland.
- Consolidated management of future pumped hydro proposals by QIC to provide a consistent approach to assessment and investment.
- New $10 million investment into community level batteries for greater solar storage and to help manage minimum system load.
- Construction of the Eastern Link of the CopperString transmission line in North Queensland and beginning of work on the Western Link.
- Establishment of Regional Energy Hubs to put downward pressure on development costs.
- Development of a new code of conduct for renewable energy developers to guide responsible behaviour and set community expectations.
The Energy Roadmap is based on economics and engineering, not ideology and delivers what Queenslanders need – affordable and reliable energy that enhances their quality of life, fuels economic growth, and ensures long-term sustainability, all while ensuring our state is an attractive destination for private sector capital and creating jobs.
Queensland’s coal-fired fleet is the youngest in the country and state-owned coal generators will continue to operate for as long as they are needed in the system and supported by the market.
For more information visit www.treasury.qld.gov.au/energy-roadmap
