Local manufacturers sought for Qld "SuperGrid"

The Queensland Government is calling on electricity equipment manufacturing businesses to help create domestic manufacturing supply chains for the renewable energy components needed to build the state’s super grid.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan released in late September sets out a path to transform Queensland’s electricity network with $62 billion worth of public and private investment over the next 15 years.

“$62 billion means a step change investment in wind turbines, solar panels, batteries, pumped hydro equipment and transmission lines.

“And because so much of it will be procured by Queensland Government Owned Corporations, we get the chance to use our purchasing power to drive local manufacturing, which means even more local jobs,” Palaszczuk said.

“Delivering this equipment presents an incredible economic opportunity for Queensland. We want to seize this opportunity by manufacturing as much of this renewable energy equipment as possible right here in Queensland.”

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the government’s Energy Manufacturing Opportunities Prospectus would enable engagement with industry keen to support Queensland’s clean energy future through local manufacture.

“Instead of importing the wind tower blades, we could be manufacturing them in Queensland and using them to build our SuperGrid and exporting them to the world,” Miles said.

“We will need thousands of batteries, wind turbines, solar panels and kilometres of transmission lines — and we want that equipment built here in Queensland, so Queenslanders get the benefits.

“We’re calling on industry and businesses who are prepared to manufacture this equipment here in Queensland to register their interest. Whether that’s by expanding existing facilities to meet the demand, establishing a new manufacturing business or moving operations to Queensland, we want to engage with you.”

Miles said that over the next 13 years Queensland will need:

• more than 2000 wind towers and nacelles
• more than 7000 wind tower blades
• almost 25 million solar PV modules
• nearly 7000 batteries.
   

Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said the $62 billion Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan emphasised the renewable energy opportunity Queensland has at its fingertips.

“By applying our Buy Queensland procurement approach to the SuperGrid construction we can aggregate demand for components that have traditionally been wholly imported, and instead start an industrial-scale manufacturing revolution,” De Brenni said.

“Our state already has the ingredients to become one of the most significant renewable energy powerhouses in the world, and we know Queenslanders are keen to make more things here and so are we.

“Our Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan and the Buy Qld procurement approach means the publicly owned power companies will work with businesses to seize this opportunity and build entire new manufacturing supply chains to deliver this transformational infrastructure.

“We’ve already backed the construction of a hydrogen electrolyser plant in central Queensland and we’re keen to get moving on batteries, transmission, electric vehicle, wind and solar farm component manufacturing too.”

Miles said the government had enlisted the Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC) to conduct a confidential market sounding process that would identify manufacturing opportunities.

“We have been clear from the start — both public and private sector capital is needed to deliver the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan,” Miles said.

“A significant opportunity exists to develop domestic manufacturing supply chains for the components which feed into the large-scale and industrial renewable systems.

“On behalf of government, QTC is conducting a market sounding process to look at the existing capability and readiness of Queensland businesses to do this work. Importantly, it will also convey to government the roles it could play in supporting the industry to bring the local manufacturing opportunities to life.

“I’m calling on businesses to register their interest and be part of the market sounding. This information will be reported to government in March 2023 to inform the release of requests for proposal later in 2023.”

To register your interest, visit https://statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/energymanufacturing.

Image credit: iStock.com/zstockphotos