Background to renewable energy zones

Renewable energy zones (REZs) are areas across Queensland with high potential to generate renewable energy.

We use REZs to coordinate how we plan and develop the clean energy infrastructure needed to secure a stable, affordable energy supply.

REZs will connect around 22GW of renewable energy to our energy grid. The REZ roadmap outlines how we’ll do this.

REZs will help us achieve our legislated targets to generate:

50% renewable energy by 2030
70% renewable energy by 2032
80% renewable energy by 2035.

Community benefits

REZs will help provide clean, reliable and affordable energy for Queenslanders in the long run.

They benefit communities, First Nations peoples, local businesses, landholders and industry by bringing new opportunities to the region, including:

jobs and training
industry investment
research opportunities.

By coordinating the construction and connection of REZ projects to the grid, we aim to reduce costs and the overall impact of development.

We’ll work closely with communities to identify local opportunities and minimise impacts of REZ development through our REZ readiness assessments.

This allows us to carefully plan for how REZ projects might affect things like:

ports
roads
housing
workforce
other factors that may be impacted by developing renewable energy.

Identifying a REZ

We worked with Powerlink to identify potential REZs where we can coordinate and connect multiple generators efficiently. Potential REZs are identified in the REZ roadmap and the SuperGrid Blueprint, which will be updated every 2 years.

We'll work with communities to refine and develop REZs and may identify new REZs in the future to meet household energy needs and support new industries.

Locations

We’ve grouped REZs into 3 regions, which are:

There are 12 potential REZ locations that we’ve identified within these regions. View a map of REZ locations (PDF, 1.8MB).

Stages of developing a REZ

Every potential REZ has 4 development stages. We’re currently in the planning stage for the Central Queensland REZs.

We expect to start planning for the southern and north and far north REZ regions in late 2024 or early 2025.

History of REZ

Read about the progress of renewable energy zones Queensland since 2020.

2024

We're using the findings from our Central Queensland REZ readiness assessments and community sessions to present recommendations to government. These initiatives aim to support communities throughout the energy transformation and help them realise the benefits of REZ development.

We talked to communities and carried out our first REZ readiness assessments in Central Queensland, focusing on the potential Callide REZ. We’ll start talking to communities and assess REZs in North and Far North and Southern Queensland next.

The REZ roadmap was released and The Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Act 2024 became law.

2023

We refined REZ regions in line with local government areas and identified 12 potential REZs in Queensland's southern, central, north and far north regions. We released a draft REZ roadmap for public consultation in July 2023.

2020

We committed $145 million in initial investment to developing 3 renewable energy zones (REZs) in regions across Queensland with the potential to provide renewable energy.