Renewable energy in North Queensland

North Queensland is the heart of our state’s renewable energy and employment boom.

Renewable energy projects are expected to be a major contributor to port trade. Shipping capacity is expected to expand and improve to meet increased demand.

Continuing investment in North Queensland will help the state reach its carbon emissions reduction target of 75% (below 2005 levels) by 2035 and net zero by 2050.

Regional centres include Burdekin, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island and Townsville.

Energy strengths

North Queensland is already contributing to the state’s biofuel production. Several solar farms and large-scale batteries are now online. The region is also set to play a key role in renewable hydrogen production and export.

As the centre for our minerals industry, skilled workers, established services and supply chain infrastructure are in place. This strong base puts the region in a great position to take advantage of new economy mineral exploration, extraction and processing.

The Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan will ensure this potential translates into jobs and improved quality of life for locals.

Renewable energy zones

The North Queensland Renewable Energy Zone (REZs) has high renewable potential. There are 2 REZs within the catchment earmarked for potential development, at Collinsville and Hughenden.

Coordinated clean energy investments in the right areas will deliver better outcomes for regional communities. REZ development in this region aligns with the development of CopperString 2032 to unlock renewable energy resources around Hughenden.

Transmission upgrades

CopperString 2032 is the largest economic development project in North Queensland’s history.

The $5 billion project will establish a high-voltage transmission line from Townsville, connecting the communities of Mount Isa, Cloncurry and the North West Minerals Province to the national electricity grid. Around 800 jobs will be created during construction.

This publicly- owned project will help supply electricity to extract more than $500 billion in critical minerals required to build electric vehicles and large-scale batteries.

Renewable energy hubs in the region

North Queensland is already home to large-scale solar farms and battery storage. Projects online in the region include the 126MW Sun Metals Solar Farm, 128MW Ross River Solar Farm and Kennedy Energy Park, which has both solar and wind facilities.

The region is also becoming a centre for the research and development of biofuels made from agricultural by-products like sugarcane feedstock. The aviation sector is planning to build a North Queensland facility to produce up to 100 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel each year.

The Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct in Townsville will further the region’s capacity for new industries. The area is expected to house advance manufacturing and hydrogen facilities, creating about 5,000 construction and 1,600 ongoing jobs.

Renewable hydrogen hubs

North Queensland has an abundance of renewable energy resources, above and below the ground, and is supported by road and rail networks and a major publicly-owned port that promises to be a gateway to growing export industries. This will include producing and exporting hydrogen at scale.

Edify Energy is leading Townsville’s Green Hydrogen Hub, which will create more than 200 jobs for electricians, plumbers, fitters and concreters during construction. Work is expected to begin in 2025. Ongoing technical and engineering jobs will be created once the hub opens in 2027 and starts supplying renewable energy for local industry and zero-emissions transportation.

Edify Energy is building a renewable hydrogen production plant that will have up to 1GW of capacity, as well as a behind-the-meter solar photovoltaic and battery storage facility within the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct. The Australian Government is contributing $70 million to this renewable hydrogen production facility.

Ark Energy is planning to produce renewable hydrogen at its SunHQ project in Townsville, supported by a $8 million Hydrogen Industry Development Fund grant.

The renewable hydrogen produced by using sunshine will help run five 140t rated hydrogen fuel-cell electric trucks. Expected to be the largest fuel-cell trucks in the world, they’ll operate on a 30km round trip between the Sun Metals Zinc Refinery and Port of Townsville. The trucks will replace 5 diesel prime movers and avoid 1,300t of CO2 emissions every year.

A $19 million specialist hub for electric and hydrogen-powered trucks is also being built in Townsville.

Critical mineral investment

North Queensland’s geographical position and skilled workforce makes it a strong contender for critical minerals processing and investment from the North Asian energy and minerals markets.

The $75 million Queensland Resources Common User Facility will be a leader in testing and processing critical minerals like vanadium, cobalt and high-purity alumina to help make large-scale batteries. The facility will be operational from 2025.

Australia’s first commercial-scale vanadium flow battery electrolyte manufacturing facility opened in mid-2023 in Townsville. Run by Vecco Group, this facility signals the start of the manufacturing and mining jobs boom required for our state’s renewable energy transformation.

Training opportunities

To support our state’s energy transformation, $4.5 billion is being invested in the Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund.

Apprentices in North Queensland now have more opportunities to train in emerging industries, with a $17 million expansion of TAFE Queensland’s Bohle campus. It includes construction of a $12.45 million hydrogen and renewable energy training facility and a $4.74 million advanced manufacturing skills lab. It will allow the TAFE to offer more than 20 new qualifications to support the renewable energy sector.

Find out about jobs in renewable energy.

How we generate electricity in Queensland

View Queensland’s electricity generation map.

Landholder opportunities

Opportunities exist for landholders to host renewable energy projects. The Queensland Renewable Energy Landholder Toolkit can help you with the decision-making process.

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