Renewable energy in South East Queensland

Energy strengths

As the administrative base for many of the state’s energy corporations and private companies, the region is playing an important role in training, research, development and coordination of Queensland’s energy future.

In recent years the region has experienced an increase in large-scale battery energy storage, including the addition of a 250MW battery park in Ipswich.

The energy transformation, outlined in the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, means:

• smarter, better integrated energy networks
• greater customer control of energy assets
• new employment opportunities.

SEQ holds great potential for mobilising existing workers and businesses towards a clean energy future. Many of the professional service jobs in the region will remain vital to manage the energy transformation.

In 2032, Brisbane will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, providing a unique opportunity to showcase our state’s clean energy credentials to the world.

Localised energy systems

More than 587,000 homes and businesses across South East Queensland have rooftop solar.  This number has boosted Queensland’s entire rooftop solar count to 849,000 homes and businesses, which accounts for 40% of our state’s renewable energy generation.

One of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest rooftop solar systems sits on top of Logan Hyperdome, with 12,000 photovoltaic panels powering the shopping centre.

More homes and businesses are installing solar battery systems to better control their electricity generation and storage. The Battery Booster program is a Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan initiative introduced to provide eligible households with rebates on home battery installation.

Stockland’s master-planned community Aura, west of Caloundra, will include community and domestic batteries, electric vehicles, LED streetlights, and rooftop solar. This will make the Sunshine Coast community one of the most energy efficient suburbs in the country.

Publicly-owned Energex and retailer Origin are delivering 35 neighbourhood batteries across Ipswich. Each pole-mounted battery stores approximately the same amount of solar as 13 household rooftop systems.

Decarbonisation of transport

At the end of May 2024, there were over 39,000 electric vehicles registered in South East Queensland. This uptake of electric vehicles has needed rapid investment in charging infrastructure. South East Queensland already has an extensive charging network and the state is continuing to expand this capacity.

Hydrogen has the potential to support cleaner transport in carbon-intensive sectors such as heavy haulage, shipping and aviation.

Australia’s first hydrogen-refuelling facility at a public service station is at the BP truck stop at the Port of Brisbane. Queensland is working with Victoria and New South Wales to develop a renewable hydrogen refuelling network to unlock nationwide transport decarbonisation potential.

The Queensland Government has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Ampol and Japanese energy giant ENEOS to explore biofuels production in Brisbane. The plant could make up to 500 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel each year.

Renewable energy zones

Southern Queensland has a history of successful renewable energy projects taking advantage of strong wind and solar resources.

Planning is underway for 2 Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) in Southern Queensland, and there is potential for 3 future REZs. Up to 12,200MW of new renewable energy generation may be installed in these REZs. These zones will help attract investment into the right areas.

Planning and development of REZ is coordinated to make sure there are opportunities for local people, businesses and supply chains.

Renewable energy projects in the region

Publicly-owned Stanwell Corporation will supply clean energy to Brisbane Airport, so that runway lights, terminals, travellators, shops and IT all run on renewables.

Another publicly-owned energy corporation, CleanCo, is building a 250MW large-scale battery at Swanbank in Ipswich, with $330 million in funding provided by the Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund.

A separate $300 million large-scale battery is going in at Greenbank in Logan, with the 200MW capacity able to power 66,000 homes for 2 hours.

Fortescue’s 550MW planned renewable hydrogen-to-ammonia project at Gibson Island will produce about 70,000t of renewable hydrogen per year. The project involves upgrading Incitec Pivot’s ammonia manufacturing facility to produce up to 400,000t of green ammonia a year, using the hydrogen created onsite.

Training opportunities

A $40 million Big Build robotics and advanced manufacturing centre is being built at Eagle Farm TAFE in Brisbane. It will include specialised training in renewable energy technologies.

Australia’s first Hydrogen Centre of Excellence opened in 2022 in Beenleigh. The $20 million centre, in partnership with the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre, is already training apprentices.

Electro Group’s $23 million renewable energy training facility at Pinkenba will offer qualifications in renewable energy. Apprentices and licensed electricians are trained to upgrade their skills to install, operate and manage solar and other renewable energy equipment safely.

The University of the Sunshine Coast currently offers courses tailored to solar energy, with 40% of all homes in the council area fitted with solar panels.