Supercharging Queensland’s future as the battery capital

A plan to make Queensland the nation’s battery industry leader will power ahead under the Palaszczuk Government as global demand for new energy storage surges.

Acting Premier Steven Miles was in Maryborough today launching a battery industry discussion paper.

The Palaszczuk Government’s Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan includes $500 million to invest in more large-scale and community batteries.

“New battery storage will play a key role in Queensland’s renewable energy revolution,” Mr Miles said.

“Demand for this technology was set to increase more than tenfold by 2030.

“The Government is launching a discussion paper to assess how Queensland can become a leader in this space and build a dynamic battery value chain leveraging our existing strengths.

“The future of energy supply is going to look very different in the decades ahead and we want Queensland to be at the forefront of this revolution.

“Be it pumped hydro storage, new solar and wind farms or the electricity Super Grid, this government is supporting Queensland’s energy transformation.

“Our $62 billion Energy and Jobs Plan sets the state’s pathway towards becoming a clean energy powerhouse and reaching 70 per cent renewables by 2032.

“Our plan includes $500 million for Queensland’s publicly owned energy businesses to invest in battery projects across the state that maximise local content for more large-scale and community batteries.

“This will support deployment of network batteries of different scales to provide additional energy storage to store excess rooftop solar and improve network resilience.”

Assistant Minister for Regional Roads and Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders said the Wide Bay region had one of the highest uptakes of solar in the country, if not the world.

“Investing in new battery storage means that more Queenslanders will benefit from the abundant solar energy in the system and there will be more opportunities for local manufacturing,” Mr Saunders said.

“Working with industry to expand battery storage capacity is also critical to meeting our renewable energy targets.

“Cementing the state’s role in domestic and international battery supply chains will accelerate industry growth, drive new investment and deliver jobs of the future.”

Energy Storage Industries — Asia Pacific (ESI) Managing Director Stuart Parry praised the Queensland Government for its leadership.

“Queensland is at the forefront of battery technology development and the Battery Strategy Discussion Paper will reinforce the state’s position as a leader in the renewable energy economy,” he said.

“Long-duration, large-scale batteries are a central part of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan and ESI is already working hard to provide iron-flow batteries made in Maryborough by Queenslanders that will capture surplus energy and return it to the grid at peak times, when it is needed most.

“We look forward to working with the Palaszczuk Government to deliver on the promise of our leading-edge technology, which is critical to supplying Queensland’s long-term low-carbon energy needs and creating jobs in this exciting new industry.”

The Battery Industry Opportunities for Queensland discussion paper, released today, gives stakeholders the opportunity to help shape the state’s future battery industry.

“Our government’s plan is to position Queensland as the gateway for battery innovation,” Mr Miles said.

“That is why we are working on a comprehensive strategy to leverage Queensland’s critical minerals and mining expertise and manufacturing strengths.

“Queensland is in a prime position to capitalise on this opportunity – and we want to hear from industry experts on how we can work together to make it happen.”

Feedback from the industry will help inform the ongoing development of the Queensland Battery Industry Strategy, expected to be released in mid-2023.

The final strategy, a key feature of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan and the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan, will focus on how to move Queensland critical minerals further along the value chain.

This includes how to boost the state’s capabilities in refining, production of advanced battery materials, cell manufacture, pack assembly, installation and recycling.

The discussion paper will be open for stakeholder feedback until 31 March 2023

Visit: https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/industry/powering-queenslands-battery-industry

ENDS

Media contact:          Katharine Wright 0422 580 342 / Amy Hunter 0423 651 484