Polling of hundreds of Townsville residents shows a healthy appetite for making the region a centre for renewables-powered industry and manufacturing.
Carried out by UComms for Solar Citizens, a survey of 610 Townsville residents found 85% strongly support or support the region becoming such a hub.
Deputy Director of Solar Citizens Stephanie Gray said businesses were “lining up” to manufacture cleantech products in Townsville given the region’s significant wind and solar energy resources, and good port facilities
“Already there are significant plans to begin producing renewable hydrogen and manufacture battery materials and solar panels locally,” said Ms. Gray. “These polling results clearly show that the community supports projects like these to power long-term good jobs.”
Ms. Gray said it was now up to the Palaszczuk Government to ensure these projects come to fruition.
“They can do that by announcing plans to turn Townsville into a clean manufacturing hub and ensuring enough cheap renewable energy is coming online locally to meet growing demand.”
The hype around hydrogen is a little troubling because if it doesn’t pan out, it will be a big black eye for the renewables sector generally. Still, it’s good to see Townsville folks excited by the opportunities renewables generally can bring.
The positive outlook isn’t surprising given many residents are already experiencing the benefits of renewables first-hand, with solar panels in Townsville a common sight on the rooftops of local homes and businesses. Local demand has been keeping solar installers servicing Townsville quite busy.
Support For Stronger Renewables Targets
The polling also found 62 per cent agreed the Queensland Government should develop a plan to generate all the state’s electricity from clean sources such as wind and solar power.
Currently the Queensland Government has a target of 50% renewable energy by 2030. Fifty five per of Townsville residents polled said Queensland should aim to be fully powered by renewable energy by the 2032 Olympics.
But even achieving the official target for 2030 could be a stretch given progress to date. According to OpenNEM, renewables only made up 19.2% of QLD electricity consumption in 2021 and in the year to date, 19.9%. Queensland still has a very heavy reliance on black coal for power generation, which made up 75.2% of consumption in 2021, and 72.9% so far this year.
It’s this reliance on the problematic rock, and to a lesser degree gas, that was responsible for recent significant electricity price increases in Queensland.
“The irony is that we have some of the country’s best solar and wind resources, especially in North Queensland where we get more than 300 days of sunshine,” said Ms. Gray. “Building more renewable energy here is a no brainer.”
The Palaszczuk Government is currently developing a new ten-year energy plan, set to be unveiled soon, that many hope will turbo-charge the construction of renewables in the state.
“We’d like to see the Queensland Government deliver a sensible plan to urgently transform our energy system with affordable renewable energy,” stated Ms. Gray. “Only then will Queensland be competitively positioned to make the most of our potential to power new clean manufacturing industries.”
About Michael Bloch
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Are renewables economically viable, or are economic aspects not being considered?
My exports to imports ratio is greater than 5:1 and yet I can’t break even under the new charges. Nor does it really matter what company you look at as all are much of a muchness. Looking at the offerings across the assorted states, most companies offering ‘high’ rates cap exports, limit system sizes, or both. One of the few exceptions is Queensland’s Ergon Energy, the state owned enterprise favourably mentioned by SQ in … https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/july-electricity-price-hikes/ back at the start of the month. The daily supply charge is about two-thirds of ‘rivals’ while usage charges are about 10% below, and they’re offering close to twice the standard FiT of others in the state, and better than most offerings in other states.
A relative with lots of firewood, a generator, and no grid connection is looking at investing in an off-grid solar system, but his situation aside, while the technology is interesting, I’ve become quite disillusioned with solar economics. Off-grid remains uneconomic until batteries drop further, while a battery + grid connection option is only viable IF usage charges continue to rise 15% each year for the next decade.
Am I alone in my pessimism? :-|)