Stanwell Corporation has signed the Central Queensland Statement of Cooperation, an agreement committing companies to work with the Queensland state government to promote Central Queensland as a zero net emissions industrial and advanced manufacturing region.
The agreement focuses on committing to industry by establishing certainty for current industry and growing demand, and delivering a globally competitive energy solution centred around firmed, low- carbon electricity for industry.
It also focuses on growing the industries of the future in Central Queensland by creating an enabling regulatory environment, strengthening regional skills and employment to lower capital intensity, and planning for the infrastructure to enable industry development.
Stanwell joins an impressive line-up of companies – Fortescue Future Industries, Acciona, Rio Tinto, Orica, and Alpha HPA – to have signed the agreement.
Stanwell chief executive officer Michael O’Rourke said the signing of the statement signals that Stanwell had an important role to play in the region’s decarbonisation, electrification, and hydrogen future.
He said: “Through investments and long-term contracts in wind, solar and energy storage, we are creating a new, lower carbon generation portfolio to help provide the spark for a bright future.
“Stanwell has already signed a 15-year, 346.5-megawatt power purchase agreement for the Clarke Creek Wind Farm near Rockhampton which is due to commence operations in 2024.
“We’re also developing with our consortium of domestic and international partners – APA Group, Iwatani Corporation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kansai Electric Power Company and Marubeni – the Central Queensland Hydrogen Project which could scale up to 3,000 megawatts by the early 2030s.
“Stanwell has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Acciona to investigate the potential to connect the proposed 350-megawatt Aldoga Farm directly into the hydrogen project.
“Signing the Central Queensland Statement of Cooperation is just another way we can highlight our commitment to working collaboratively and putting our energy into finding better, cleaner ways to reliably generate, store and move electricity.”
Queensland deputy premier and minister for state development Steven Miles said commitments like this helped propel Central Queensland towards becoming a renewable energy powerhouse, as part of Queensland’s plan for economic recovery.
Miles said: “We are unlocking opportunities for Queensland to create more jobs as the world shifts towards decarbonisation.
“By bringing together the key players in the region, we can leverage our state’s traditional strengths and thrive in the global transformations ahead.”
O’Rourke said that Stanwell had been investing in the Central Queensland region for almost 30 years and would continue to do so into the future.
He said: “The Central Queensland region is of strategic and operational importance to us – both in terms of our existing operations at Stanwell Power Station and future renewable energy and hydrogen projects.
“We look forward to working with the Queensland Government and other signatories to make Central Queensland an industrial and renewable energy powerhouse, helping drive employment and economic outcomes for the region and Queensland more broadly.
“A coordinated approach is essential to deliver industrial decarbonisation, transmission infrastructure, and major renewable and hydrogen development concurrently.”
