Work is progressing for the new renewable energy industrial precinct in Barcaldine, Queensland, as the state government talks with several companies interested in establishing a presence at the precinct.
The Queensland government recently allocated $7 million in the state budget to establish common user infrastructure to get the proposed Barcaldine Renewable Energy Zone (BREZ) precinct off the ground.
The proposed industrial hub will be linked to a large-scale, renewable energy project and provide manufacturing tenants with competitive low-carbon electricity.
Professor Ross Garnaut, director of ZEN Energy, said industries in the BREZ will be globally competitive, relying on low energy and materials costs for sales.
They will be sustainable, increasing in value and scale as the world moves to zero net emissions. Employment and population in Barcaldine and the surrounding region will be able to grow after generations of decline,” Garnaut said.
Zen Energy is the renewable energy company that owns Sunshot Industries, which will develop and deliver the BREZ project in collaboration with Barcaldine Regional Council.
Work on the BREZ project follows the release of the Queensland New Industry Development Strategy in May to grow industries critical to the global shift to a net zero economy, including renewable energy manufacturing.
“Queensland is on the cusp of a new wave of economic growth driven by the global shift to a net zero economy and we are seizing this opportunity,” said Acting Premier Steven Miles.
“This investment in the establishment of the BREZ is a great example of our commitment to making Queensland the state of opportunity in a decarbonising world. This is a strategy that will shape the economic future of our regions, so we’re encouraging Queenslanders to have their say.”
The Queensland government launched a community consultation today for the development of regionally specific transformation strategies and allocate funding to projects that will create local jobs and support economic growth in the long term. For more information and to submit a response, visit www.qld.gov.au/wearethefuture.
