Solar thermal back on the table for Queensland
22 March 2021: An agreement between state-owned Stanwell Corporation and Vast Solar for a feasibility study into the North West Queensland Hybrid Power Project was today welcomed by community group Solar Citizens.
“Across the country the profitability of coal generators is taking a hit and here in Queensland we’re not immune,” said Stephanie Gray, Energy Strategist at Solar Citizens.
“The energy system is shifting more rapidly than many people imagined and to date the Queensland Government hasn’t been keeping up.
“When our ageing coal plants start dropping like flies we’ll need clean, on-demand energy to fill the gaps – and for that we need to follow in NSW’s footsteps and get serious about rolling out more energy storage.
“Solar thermal is a very exciting technology that can provide clean energy around the clock, although it is disappointing that Vast Solar’s proposal also includes expensive gas.”
In NSW the State Government is pushing forward with a 2GW long-duration energy storage target to provide grid services and firm the many clean energy projects that are proposed across their regions.
“We’re still waiting for a report that the Queensland Government committed to commission back in 2017 that would assess the options for deploying hydro storage in the state,” said Ms Gray.
“The transition is here and if we don’t properly plan for enough clean energy generation and storage to take the place of retiring coal stations it’s consumers that will suffer.”
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Media contact: Stephanie Gray 0425543006
