Australia’s second-largest state will not transition away from coal or natural gas anytime soon.
The Queensland Government recently refused to phase out fossil fuels and move to 100 per cent renewable energy.
“We are already seeing a worldwide shift from fossil fuels but the reality is they will continue to play a key role. We will not be closing the gate on any of our traditional thermal generators,” State Energy, Renewables, Hydrogen, Public Works and Procurement Minister Mick de Brenni said according to the Australian Associated Press.
“They will be continuing to perform an important function, varied functions into the future as they support the greater uptake of solar wind and initiatives like pump storage.”
The minister plans to install battery storage and hydrogen production facilities at existing coal-fired power stations over the next decade, as part of the Sunshine State’s upcoming 10-year energy plan.
This strategy is promised to lift renewable energy’s share of statewide consumption from 20 to 50 per cent. It is touted to slash carbon emissions by 30 per cent before the end of 2030. Power station upgrades are also expected to create 48,000 construction jobs.
“Our existing power stations will become energy hubs and so we will have our traditional turbines there, add to those synchronous condensers, have battery storage, hydrogen production – and a range of other services – to the broader energy system from those power stations,” de Brenni said according to the newswire agency.
Fossil fuels generated nearly 80 per cent of the state’s energy supply at the time of publication.
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