Three businesses working to achieve Queensland’s renewable energy targets
Three businesses working to achieve Queensland’s renewable energy targets
With Queensland making inroads to achieving its ambitious 70% renewable energy target by 2032 and saving 80% of waste from entering landfill by 2030, many industries and businesses are forging ahead to help reach these goals.
Decarbonisation is like a big clean-up effort for the environment. When we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas for energy, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air. This extra CO2 traps heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate change.
Decarbonisation is about reducing the amount of CO2 emitted into the air. We do this by using cleaner sources of energy, like green hydrogen, wind, solar and hydro power, which don't produce CO2, and circular recycling practices to encourage reuse and repurposing of objects otherwise destined for the rubbish tip.
Together with key industries, the Queensland Government has introduced policies and incentives to support clean energy and resource recovery efforts. This includes generous subsidies for renewable energy projects, grants for energy-efficient upgrades and regulations aimed at reducing emissions from industrial activities. These Queensland businesses are just a few of those leading the way in helping achieve our state’s ambitious targets.
CS Energy’s Kogan Clean Energy Hub
CS Energy is investing in a range of energy technologies to support customers’ clean energy requirements and Queensland’s future energy needs. They are developing a clean energy hub next to the Kogan Creek Power Station, located in the Western Downs. The hub currently has three projects:
- The Chinchilla Battery – a 100MW/200MWh grid-scale battery that began commercial operations in July 2024.
The battery is made up of 80 Tesla megapack systems and when fully operational, will be able to discharge electricity to meet the demand of 33,000 homes for two hours in evening peak times.
Batteries are fast and flexible and are expected to play an increasingly important role in Australia's power grid. They can rapidly respond when there is a sudden gap in electricity supply in the grid, which helps to reduce wholesale price volatility. Batteries support greater uptake of renewable energy by charging up during the middle of the day when there is often a surplus of solar energy and then releasing it during the evening peak demand period when there may be a gap in the grid power supply.
- The Kogan Renewable Hydrogen Demonstration Plant – construction is underway on this renewable hydrogen production facility that will be powered by behind-the-meter solar energy.
The Renewable Hydrogen Demonstration Plant will include the co-location of a solar farm, battery, hydrogen electrolyser and a hydrogen fuel cell next to the Kogan Creek Power Station. Hydrogen refuelling facilities will be located at Chinchilla and Charlton to support hydrogen-powered transportation in the region.
- The hydrogen-ready Brigalow Peaking Power Plant – this project will have a capacity of up to 400 MW and is in the planning and development approvals phase.
The Brigalow Peaking Power Plant will use a blend of renewable hydrogen and natural gas to provide crucial capacity to support more renewables entering the grid in Queensland. The plant will be a reliable source of fast power when needed. With its ability to ramp up to full power output within five minutes, the plant can be on the grid quickly to provide sustained power output during peak demand periods. Design is underway ahead of construction beginning on-site at the end of this year, subject to final approvals.
‘Converting publicly owned coal-fired stations into clean energy hubs by 2035 is a key element of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan,’ CS Energy CEO Darren Busine said.
‘By creating clean energy hubs at our power stations, CS Energy will deliver the energy mix needed to reliably transition the grid to renewable energy and provide opportunities for our workforce to reskill.
‘Our power stations are located in strong parts of the network and have strategic advantages such as highly skilled workers, grid connection, water allocations, available land and established community relationships.
‘It’s exciting to see the Kogan Clean Energy Hub come to fruition with the Chinchilla Battery being commissioned and work well advanced on the Kogan Renewable Hydrogen Demonstration Plant.’
BlockTexx Textile Recycling
BlockTexx is a world-leading textile-recovery facility developed and commercialised with support funding from the Queensland Government’s Resource Recovery Industry Development Program.
Logan-based BlockTexx operates a clothing and textiles recycling process. Beginning with the collection of unwanted clothing items, they shred, process and remanufacture into new products.
Each year, the facility breaks down and repurposes thousands of tonnes of cotton and polyester materials that would usually be headed for landfill.
The company’s recycling process sees cotton broken down into cellulose, which can be used for paints, cosmetics, hydromulch, concrete and more. Polyester becomes pellets that can be used in injection moulding to manufacture items including office fit-outs and furniture, geofabric (used for retaining walls and road underlay and more in construction), playground equipment and even coat hangers.
BlockTexx co-founder Graham Ross said, ‘Unwanted textiles are the nation’s untapped waste stream. Our technology reduces environmental impact by diverting clothing from landfill to provide Queensland businesses with decarbonisation pathways through recycled products.
In support of the Queensland Government’s goal to recover 80% of all waste by 2030, BlockTexx is currently scaling processing capacity at our Loganholme site from 4,000tpa to 10,000tpa while transitioning to renewable energy.’
Jet Zero Sustainable Aviation Fuel
With the aviation industry a leading contributor to excess carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, the need for innovation and new technology is greater now more than ever.
Jet Zero’s Project Ulysses, expected to be located in the Townsville State Development Area (SDA), will convert bioethanol from agricultural byproducts into both Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel. At completion, the sustainable fuels are forecast to reduce aircraft carbon dioxide emissions by over 70% versus the equivalent fossil fuel. The project will produce approximately 100 million litres of SAF each year.
Jet Zero CEO Ed Mason says, “We are a home-grown biofuel company supported by Qantas, Airbus and Idemitsu and are committed to the development of a SAF project in Townsville which will not only decarbonise the aviation sector but provide fuel security and expand energy demand for the emerging Townsville renewable energy hub.
Furthermore, our SAF project will help capture the economic benefits of a domestic SAF industry for Queensland, an industry is expected to be worth $3 billion annually and generate up to 15,600 jobs. The team at Jet Zero Australia is striving to position Queensland as a world leader in the low-emissions biofuels industry’.
Group represented at the Ceremony:Jet Zero Australia,Queensland Government, Townsville Enterprise, Townsville Chamber of Commerce, Manildra, QSL, Dragonfly Enviro Capital, Qantas, Airbus, LanzaJet, Port of Townsville, Ark Energy, BarrenJoey (Barclays), Long Energy & Resources, Advance Cairns, Cassowary Coast Council.
Each of these business’ initiatives helping reach Queensland’s ambitious renewable energy and waste management targets are supported by comprehensive policies such as the Queensland New Industry Development Strategy and the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan. These frameworks enable our state to capitalise on our existing strengths to meet our targets and create a sustainable future for all Queenslanders.
To learn more about new industry opportunities in Queensland, visit www.qld.gov.au/wearethefuture
Last updated: 04 Sep 2024
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