Opening the north’s renewable energy potential

Developing a Resource Corridor was prepared by economic consultants BIS Shrapnel and jointly commissioned by north Queensland regional development group MITEZ, Townsville Enterprise, Queensland Resources Council and local governments across the region.
“The report’s key finding is the jobs dividend to north Queensland of the region’s renewable energy potential,’ Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche said.
“A transmission line from Townsville to Mount Isa would open opportunities for a host of renewable energy resources including wind, solar thermal, geothermal, bagasse and biofuels, along with coal seam gas and shale oil.
“The report confirms that the north is almost spoilt for choice, with so many different sources of energy but they will be stranded for as long as there is no transmission link to potential customers,’ he said.
BIS Shrapnel says that in unlocking the region’s renewable energy potential, a transmission line would:
. create around 1,800 new jobs in renewable energy generation
. help meet the federal government’s target of 20 per cent renewable energy generation by 2020
. assist the state government meet its Q2 target to cut Queensland’s carbon footprint by one third by 2020
. give North West Queensland energy security with connection to the National Electricity Market
. allow Queenslanders to access base load renewable energy on a commercial scale.
“Queensland has a unique opportunity to build a transmission link to service the energy needs of the mining industry and build it to a scale to support a brand new renewable energy generation sector,” Roche said.
“The clock’s ticking on this initiative because existing industries in the North West need to know if a transmission link is going to be built this year.
“The link may need a modest investment from governments to ensure that it provides the least-cost solution to existing resource customers but it’s an investment that will be repaid many times with the opening up of renewable energy generation opportunities.
‘The challenge for governments is to provide enough of a funding top-up, to secure a transmission solution so that renewable energy can flourish in Queensland,’ said Roche.

To read the report click here.