Top level talks on clean energy

Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson held talks today with the head of one of the world’s leading think tanks on clean energy.

Minister Wilson and Mr Nobua Tanaka, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, discussed opportunities to pave the way to a cleaner, greener energy future.

Mr Tanaka is in Queensland as the keynote speaker at this week’s Clean Energy Conference on the Gold Coast.

“I was delighted to let him know that Queensland is open for clean energy business,” Mr Wilson said.

“Our new Office of Clean Energy will spearhead the drive for renewable energy sources. We’re looking beyond the horizon with clever solutions to secure Queensland’s future. It’s Q2 at its smartest.

“Our Office of Clean Energy is the first port of call for investors and energy companies that want to establish clean energy businesses here in Queensland and we’ve set bold targets,” he said.

“By combining our intellectual and policy firepower, we can work towards resolving research and development challenges. We can also encourage other nations to embrace cleaner, greener energy sources,” Mr Wilson said.

“We’re already leading the field in cleaner, greener energy. There’s our $100 million green energy fund, and in first for Queensland, we’re creating a solar map to exploit the state’s full solar potential. We’re also helping to develop the world’s first solar gas demonstration project.

“We’re investing in a ground-breaking solar thermal power station in Cloncurry which will be capable of creating continuous electricity fuelled by the sun. In another Queensland-first, we’ve built a solar farm at Windorah in outback Queensland.

“There’s our $15 million solar cities trial in the north that will transform Magnetic Island into a truly solar suburb.

“We’re working with the new Rudd Labor Government on a single national renewable energy target of 20% by 2020.

“We’re establishing a Geothermal Centre of Excellence. And there’s Ergon Energy’s ground-breaking fuel cell trial in Cairns. It’s an Australian-first.

“There’s still more work to be done and the Bligh Government is getting on with the job of tackling climate change with sensible, workable solutions,” Mr Wilson said.

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