Darling Downs and South West Queensland to be renewable energy hub

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) chief executive officer Dr Ben Lyons believes the Surat Basin region is well positioned to drive the renewable energy agenda for southern Queensland.

“The Surat Basin region is well positioned with access to energy and electricity networks positioning the region as an ideal place to drive the renewable energy agenda for southern Queensland,” Dr Lyons said.

The Toowoomba and Surat Basin region already has three major solar projects alone in the pipeline.

The $1 billion Bulli Creek Solar Farm at Millmerran received approval from the Toowoomba Regional Council early last year.

Canadian Solar also have a $170 million solar project located at Oakey which has been approved and the 106.8 megawatt Darling Downs Solar Farm located at Dalby has been named as the highest capacity Queensland solar project on the recent Australia Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA).

These projects have been shortlisted for federal and long-term state funding with announcements pending.

Dalby also houses one of only three Biofuels facilities in Queensland, where sorghum is converted to ethanol.

“These projects mean more opportunities to create local jobs and opportunities for local content adoption supporting regional businesses and communities,” Dr Lyons said.

“We are in an ideal location to attract further investment in this area with competitive costs of doing business and a business environment primed for innovative solutions.

“We are already seeing commercial uptake of renewable energy with innovative businesses already looking to Toowoomba as a great place to establish business.

“Local company and TSBE member Geothermal Industries recently established in the region providing a geothermal energy solution for heating and cooling with Australian first drilling technology imported from Sweden.”

“The government has committed itself to embracing new industries, with large scale renewable energy a large piece of this puzzle, in order to generate more jobs and attract greater levels of investment,” Dr Lyons said.

“Queensland as a whole already has the highest level of solar capacity of any Australian state and the target has been set to reach 50 per cent renewable energy in Queensland by 2030, and I believe our region can play a major role in making this happen.”