Solar State: Queensland’s World Leading Solar Resource

A recent study by the Queensland State Government in partnership with the Clinton Foundation’s Climate Initiative highlights Queensland’s excellent potential for future large-scale solar generation projects.

Leading consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff were commissioned to investigate the technical feasibility for solar investment in the state, finding that “the quality of Queensland's solar resource is comparable to the world's best solar resources” and that “deploying large-scale solar projects in Queensland is technically and environmentally feasible.”

State Premier Anna Bligh insists that Queensland “can match the current world leaders in solar thermal development,” Nevada (U.S.A) and Granada (Spain).

Beyond Zero Emissions Director Matthew Wright says the report confirms many of the findings in the Banksia award-winning Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan: “Queensland’s solar resource for a state in an OECD nation is second to none, and contains locations with some of the highest levels of solar radiation on Earth. It is the perfect location for baseload concentrating solar thermal plants with storage.”

The Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan also shows that many sites in Australia are endowed with levels of superior solar incidence compared to a number of international sites currently used for solar-thermal power plants. The BZE plan identifies Prairie, Roma, Charleville and Longreach as examples of highly suitable sites for potential large-scale solar power generation in the sunshine state.

To remain a world leader in innovation and technological advancement, Wright believes that Queensland must “shift its focus away from an antiquated coal industry, and embrace modern renewable energy technologies.”

By Josh G