Energy experts have welcomed Queensland's "highly ambitious" clean energy plan — but will it turn the state into the "global renewable energy superpower" the premier promised?
For years Queensland has lagged behind other states and countries to the point it may have not met its previous goal of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, University of Queensland economist John Quiggin said.
That target was increased yesterday as part of Queensland's $62 billion clean energy plan, dubbed "one of the biggest announcements the state government has ever made.
The state's now hopes to hit 70 per cent renewable use by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035.
The announcement also included construction of the world's biggest hydro storage facility, as well as the creation of an energy "SuperGrid".
The move has been lauded a "pleasant surprise" and "very, very ambitious but achievable" by energy experts.
"What we have seen is a radical increase in ambition backed up by a number of specifically-funded projects," Dr Quiggin said.
"It's a big change in the picture of electricity supply in Queensland. It could certainly end the stages of Queensland lagging."
It has also made our renewable energy targets "more than achievable".
So how will it make a difference?
The plan is largely contingent on the Queensland "SuperGrid" – a network of renewable energy generators, energy storage devices and transmission lines that will be built across the state.
University of Queensland researcher in energy data and consumer habits, Dr Mashhuda Glencross said Queenslanders had an appetite for renewables, but the state lagged behind in terms of infrastructure.
"We have a good set up in Queensland in terms of the level of renewable energy already in the power grid," she said.
"What's been holding things back is the fact that we've not really had the infrastructure within the power grid to be able to deal with the generation."
This has meant that unless renewable power is used immediately, it has gone to waste.
The "SuperGrid" will store energy from non-peak periods through a network of batteries, hydrogen power stations and, mainly, through two pumped hydro projects.
The government has dubbed one of the projects near Mackay "the battery of the north" and the largest hydro storage facility in the world.
"The total capacity of these pumped hydro projects is 7 gigawatts, that's very close to the coal fired power station capacity in Queensland," energy analyst James Ha told the ABC.
"We're basically looking at replacing the fleet [of coal fired power stations] with these pumped hydro projects."
How does hydro work?
Each plant works through two lined dams: one at the top of a hill and another at the bottom.
It uses renewable power during non-peak periods to move water from the bottom dam to the top of the hill.
Then when energy is needed, the water runs back downhill through turbines, re-generating the energy used to move the water uphill.
Environmental engineering expert Professor Rodney Stewart said these storage facilities would be like "energy insurance".
"You can have no sun, no wind or you have neither. That can happen in part of the state or the whole state so you need to build this energy portfolio and connect it," he said.
He said hydro was one of the best options.
"It's much lower cost and when you think about whole of life and the environmental impact, it's a preferred solution over batteries," he said.
What are the challenges of hydro power?
Cost and delivery.
Professor Stewart said Queensland had the natural resources to support the plan but the costs involved would be considerable.
"Queensland's blessed with lots of land, lots of sun, lots of wind, so as a state we have the potential in terms of renewable energy to meet those targets," he said.
"We can move towards this 80 per cent [renewable energy target] or even get toward the 100 per cent, it's just going to be the cost of doing that."
"You have to build two or three times your [average electricity] demand in renewables, and you also have to build the storage.
"So instead of building one asset, you need to build three assets so you can guarantee your customers that they are going to have power all the time."
Mr Ha warned delays to the pumped hydro projects and transmission lines could hinder Queensland's progress and cause cost blow outs.
"There's obviously some real challenges to making sure that these major infrastructure projects get delivered on time," he said.
"What we've seen with the existing Snowy2.0 scheme being built in NSW, is that the project is several years behind budget and several billion dollars more expensive than the initial cost estimate."
"It is very positive that [the Queensland government] announced closure dates for coal sites because that provides the private sector with a greater level of certainty."
How will Queensland's clean energy plan help me?
In a nutshell, it'll mean a massive change to your power bill.
Justin Oliver, a board member of the Australian Energy Regulator, said that nationally, household power prices will remain high for some years as Australia transitions to renewable energy.
But he said Queensland's clean energy plan would help drive further investment to smooth the transition.
"That's what's going to drive down power bills," he told ABC Radio Brisbane.
"We need to get to a future where we're not relying on thermal generation coal and gas, but to see that exit the market in an orderly fashion without pushing prices up, we need new capacity and new storage to replace it. That's really where the urgency comes in."
Detailed modelling is not yet available but the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan document puts the average wholesale price of energy to 2040 at 15 per cent lower than without the plan.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said "the more renewable energy we can use, the more we can put downward pressure on prices".
