Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has secured a deal with government-owned energy generator Stanwell to make its operations 100 per cent powered by renewable energy.
As part of the agreement, Stanwell will supply up to 185 GWh of renewable energy annually, powering all of BAC’s operations, including runway lights, terminals, travellators, escalators, retail shops, administration, information technology, and electric vehicles.
In a statement issued Sunday, Queensland Minister for Energy, Renewables, and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said the transaction indicates that Stanwell, known for its coal-fired energy generation, was transitioning towards supporting the decarbonisation of one of the hardest to abate sectors.
Gert-Jan de Graaff, BAC’s chief executive, said the deal would allow the airport operator to meet its net zero emissions commitment 25 years earlier than planned.
“Queenslanders can travel through our terminals knowing their journey begins and ends at one of the world’s most sustainable airports once this green energy begins flowing from regional Queensland,” de Graaff said.
BAC is the first airport operator in Australia to announce its plan to be powered by 100 per cent green energy by 2025.
“From small businesses to big corporates like Brisbane Airport, they all have one thing in common – they want access to low emissions power,” de Brenni said.
In a statement, de Brenni said the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan sets out a path to bring another 22 GW of renewable energy into the system, allowing Brisbane Airport to help travellers reduce their carbon footprint.
“This is the first of many renewable energy options Stanwell Energy will be offering to support our commercial and industrial customers meet their decarbonisation requirements,” said Michael O’Rourke, Stanwell’s CEO.
Stanwell’s partnership with Brisbane Airport Corporation will source renewable energy from the Clarke Creek Wind Farm and Blue Grass Solar projects.
The Queensland government recently announced a $4.5 billion investment that would allow its government-owned energy companies to build and own more renewable energy, storage and hydrogen projects.
The investment marks a significant milestone towards cutting energy emissions in Queensland by 90 per cent before 2035, according to Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon.
“The Palaszczuk Government’s Energy and Jobs Plan is the most ambitious action on climate change and renewables in Queensland’s history,” Minister Scanlon said. “And what we’re seeing is businesses right across the state keen to take their own action and match our ambitions.
