Queensland has a unique set of natural advantages that could see the state prosper as the world moves towards a low carbon future. Here in the Sunshine State, there’s an abundance of solar and wind resources as well as a wealth of clean energy expertise and innovation.

Australia can utilise its natural renewable energy resources—some of the world's best solar and wind—to create new manufacturing and minerals processing industries. 

Just months ago large-scale clean energy projects were going gangbusters right across Queensland – bringing jobs and billions worth of investment to the regions. But now, Federal energy policy uncertainty has derailed the large-scale clean energy industry, particularly in Queensland. 

We’ve just released an exciting analysis showing a whopping 51,000 construction jobs and almost 2,500 ongoing jobs will be created across Queensland if all the large-scale clean energy projects under development go ahead. That’s a game-changer.

Unlike other States, most of Queensland’s power stations are still in public hands. This means that the revenue from the power stations goes back to funding schools, hospitals and roads, rather than to private companies.

Last year, Solar Citizens ‘Renewable Energy Across the Regions’ report showed just how much jobs and investment were happening in renewables in regional Queensland [1]. In 2018, renewables project amounting to more than 1000MW were built in Queensland, creating over 2000 construction jobs.

After previous attempts to slap solar households with unfair charges or the “sun tax”, the AEMC has finally come up with a proposal that looks to the future rather than attempting to maintain the status quo. In a recently released review—“Integrating Distributed Energy Resources for the Grid of the Future”—the AEMC has acknowledged that there is a huge and valuable resource in the amount of rooftop solar DER that Australians have installed.

Meet Tom. His sheep graze under Neoen's Dubbo Solar Farm and he reckons the panels have made the land more productive, especially in the drought.

Whether you already have rooftop solar panels or are thinking about installing them in your home, tech enthusiast Harold thinks you should consider a solar battery system to complement them. 

With solar panels and a solar battery powering their home, Terry and his wife are part of a small but growing community of Australians who are ahead of the energy curve, taking energy production into their own hands.