The Energy industry is rapidly evolving, particularly with the Queensland Government’s commitment to fund the $6.2 billion CopperString 2032 project.
North Queensland is well-positioned to capitalise on the decarbonisation movement, with abundant solar and wind resources throughout the North and North West. The region enjoys over 300 days of sunshine annually and unique day-night wind patterns near Hughenden. CopperString will connect North Queensland's renewable energy to the National Electricity Market, enabling the region to supply clean, emissions-free power to the nation. By leveraging its renewable energy advantages, North Queensland can become a major contributor to Australia's low-carbon transition.
The CopperString Effect
The high voltage transmission line running between Townsville and Mount Isa is expected to unlock more than $500 billion worth of new economy minerals in the region. This corridor is rich in critical minerals that are in high global demand for technologies like renewable energy, electric vehicles, and electronics. The development of this transmission line infrastructure will enable the extraction and processing of these valuable mineral resources. In addition to the significant mineral wealth, the Townsville to Mount Isa region has also been identified as having exceptional wind and solar energy resources. The abundance of renewable energy potential in the area is attracting increased investment into new wind and solar power projects. Developers are eager to capitalise on the region's natural advantages to generate clean electricity.
Becoming Australia's Green Energy Hub
North and North West Queensland have been identified as one of Australia's most promising regions for large-scale renewable energy generation. Along with the abundance of both solar and wind resources, the region has also been identified as a hydrogen hub. The energy intensive process of producing hydrogen has positioned North Queensland as a promising hub for the emerging hydrogen industry. Several companies are establishing operations in the region with plans to produce and export hydrogen fuel derived from renewable sources. This could position the area as a major supplier of clean hydrogen in the future energy economy.