News
| 05 October 2022

The role of engineers in Queensland’s renewable energy boom 

In late September the Queensland Government announced a 70 per cent renewable energy generation target for 2032.  

A significant portion of the plan to achieve this target involves creating the biggest pumped hydro scheme in the world. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the government would be investing another $2.5 billion into the Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen jobs fund, which means the sector will now receive $4.5 billion in investment.

This investment will result in a boost for engineering jobs in renewable energy and hydrogen production, operation and maintenance.

The government has set a clear target of building two new pumped hydrogen facilities in operation by 2035. One at the Pioneer Valley Dam near Mackay, and the other at the Borumba Dam near Gympie. It also announced plans to build Australia’s largest publicly owned windfarm in South Burnett, a project set to create 200 jobs. 

In the same week, the government announced it had connected a new $8 million battery near Yeppoon to support a huge uptake of rooftop solar power generation in the area. The battery will help to export renewable energy to Queensland’s electricity grid.  

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick said Queensland’s energy transformation will provide the greatest jobs opportunity in a generation. 

“This empowers our regions in every sense of the word. It will bring manufacturing back to the regions in all-new industries,” the Treasurer said. 

Engineers Australia will host its Queensland Central Regional forum for 2022 in Rockhampton on the back of this record renewable energy investment. 

The Central Regional Forum will deliver the theme 'engineering on display in central QLD'. The program features guest speakers with engineering expertise from a range of sectors including hydrogen, flooding, waste management, social impact, renewable power generation and civil works. 

Engineers Australia Queensland General Manager Stacey Rawlings says engineers will be central to the creation and upkeep of renewable energy projects that will help Queensland achieve its 2032 goals. 

“Our Central Regional Forum will be a place to learn about and discuss the challenges and opportunities engineers will face as Queensland aims to become a renewable energy powerhouse.”  

“The engineering profession will be at the forefront of these exciting projects in Queensland, and we want engineers of all ages to be involved in these discussions. The engineering expertise and innovation needed for these projects will help to shape Australia’s transition to a net-zero economy.” 

Register now to attend the Central Regional Forum in Rockhampton on 28 October, 2022.