As part of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, work is underway to construct a new 275kV Queensland SuperGrid Link between Cairns and Townsville.
The publicly owned Powerlink project will upgrade a portion of the current 132kV coastal transmission line to permanently run at 275kV capacity thanks to $40 million in financing from the Queensland Government.
Today, Minister for Energy, Renewables, and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni inspected construction work at the Woree Substation in Cairns and met with workers constructing the Queensland SuperGrid.
Minister de Brenni said the Queensland SuperGrid link between Cairns and Townsville improves the dependability, security, and affordability of energy supplies for North Queenslanders while also unlocking up to 500MV of extra renewable energy capacity on the third circuit to the far north.
“It means we can pump more renewables into the Queensland SuperGrid and create more good jobs in our publicly owned energy system for workers in North Queensland,” Minister de Brenni stated.
Minister de Brenni added that the new SuperGrid Link also enhances grid resilience for North Queensland residents, allowing them to better manage extreme weather events like storms and cyclones.
Curtis Pitt, the Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and a Mulgrave representative, stated that the State Government’s funding of this project was crucial to the success of the $373 million Kaban Green Power Hub.
“That project has supported 250 jobs, and once complete this year will generate enough clean energy to power tens of thousands of homes,” Pitt said.
The project, the first in the North Queensland Renewable Energy Zone, is well-positioned to make use of the region’s famous wind resources, according to the State Government.
“With this new Queensland SuperGrid Link between Cairns to Townsville, more locals can get access to cheaper, cleaner, and more secure energy,” Pitt added.
Assistant Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Member for Cairns Michael Healy said Far North Queensland would benefit from more renewable energy in terms of jobs, economy, and the environment.
“Our $62 billion Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan sets Cairns on a pathway towards becoming a clean energy powerhouse,” Assistant Minister Healy stated.
According to Assistant Minister Healy, it means that by 2032, 70 per cent of Queensland’s energy supply will come from renewable sources, helping to combat climate change, save the reef, and prepare for increasingly severe natural disasters.
“Our plan reduces household and business electricity emissions by an incredible 96 per cent by 2040,” he added.
The Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, according to Minister de Brenni, would build Australia’s greatest energy SuperGrid, carrying renewable energy from the regions and powering industry and families.
“The Queensland SuperGrid will be the electricity superhighway that connects our renewable energy to demand up and down the coast,” Minister de Brenni said.
Minister de Brenni stated that it implies that wherever energy is generated—especially in North Queensland—it can be captured, sent, or stored where it is most required.
“Because Queenslanders know that when it comes to essential services, public ownership is critical–our plan is to honour our commitment to 100% public ownership of our transmission networks,” he added.
