More than 230 companies have expressed interest in boosting local renewable energy supply chain opportunities in Queensland as part of the state’s SuperGrid manufacturing and jobs boom.
This progress comes nearly a month after the Queensland government launched its Energy and Jobs Plan and Energy Manufacturing Opportunity Prospectus.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said companies from the state, across Australia, and abroad, have quickly recognised the potential of Queensland’s energy system transformation.
According to Miles, more than 100 companies who have enlisted in the strategy are manufacturers that seek opportunities to build energy equipment and other assets in Queensland.
These include businesses that could potentially build the state’s new wind turbines, solar panels, batteries, green hydrogen systems, pumped-hydro facilities and energy transmission networks.
“Investment in new renewable energy projects over the next 15 years is expected to exceed $62 billion, so it’s an incredible economic opportunity,” Miles said.
By 2035, Queensland seeks to achieve significant energy transformation that will include more than 2,000 wind towers and nacelles, at least 7,000 wind tower blades, nearly 25 million solar photovoltaic modules, and approximately 7,000 batteries.
“Because so much of this investment will be procured by Queensland Government Owned Corporations, we will have the chance to direct our purchasing power into local manufacturing and local jobs,” Miles added.
In a statement, Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said the Queensland SuperGrid initiative is “bringing back manufacturing to Queensland.”
“Our approach is about being builders, not just buyers, and through our Buy Queensland procurement approach, we can aggregate demand for components that have traditionally been wholly imported, and instead start an industrial scale manufacturing revolution,” de Brenni said.
Companies who had responded to the prospectus are now part of a Queensland Treasury Corporation market-sounding process identifying existing Queensland-based capability and participation readiness, as well as manufacturing opportunities.
The prospectus remains open for expressions of interest.
