New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
World’s biggest pumped hydro project for Queensland
5/10/2022
News
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has unveiled bold clean energy plans for Queensland, Australia, including what is claimed will be the biggest pumped hydro scheme in the world.
The new dam, to be built in the Pioneer Valley near Mackay, will supply half of the State’s entire energy needs with clean, reliable and affordable renewable energy as part of a $62bn Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.
The Plan aims to supply 70% of Queensland’s energy supply from renewables by 2032, and 80% by 2035. It will ‘unlock’ 22 GW of new renewable capacity (eight times the current level) through a number of projects, including two new pumped hydro projects at Pioneer/Burdekin and Borumba Dam by 2035, 11.5 GW of rooftop solar and 6 GW of embedded batteries, and a new ‘SuperGrid’ connecting solar, wind, battery and hydrogen generators across the State.
In addition, publicly owned coal fired-power stations are to be converted to clean energy hubs that will transition to, for example, hydrogen power, with ‘jobs guarantees for workers’.
The Plan will also see Queensland building its first hydrogen ready gas turbine.
Explaining that the ‘visionary’ proposals would ‘set Queensland up for the next century’, Premier Palaszczuk said: ‘This plan is all about cheaper, cleaner and secure energy for Queenslanders. It is about turbo-charging new investment in new minerals, batteries and manufacturing. Renewable energy is the cheapest form of new energy and this plan makes Queensland the renewable energy capital of the world.’
She added: ‘It also takes real and decisive action on climate change, providing the biggest commitment to renewable energy in Australia’s history.’
Deputy Premier Steven Miles noted that the two new pumped hydro facilities would be bigger than the Snowy Mountains hydro-electric scheme. ‘We will use cheap solar electricity during the day to pump water up the mountain to store it. Then at night we can release the water to generate electricity. It’s like a giant battery,’ he explained.
Meanwhile, Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said the proposals ensured Queensland’s power generators would remain in public ownership.
Meaghan Scanlon, Minister for the Environment and Great Barrier Reef, added that the Plan was also good news for the environment: ‘It means emissions from energy will be cut by 90% by 2035,’ she said, adding: ‘This is what leadership looks like. This is real climate action.’
