Energy

Queensland’s electric power network operates as part of the national power grid, which is developing and adopting smart systems and technology to efficiently manage power use. The state also has a regulatory environment that supports the use and development of renewable transport fuels.

Queensland is ideally placed to be a world leader in the development of renewable energy sources. The state boasts a combination of world-class researchers and a long-term competitive advantage in the production of key alternative fuel feedstocks such as sugarcane and grains—particularly sorghum.

Supplying reliable, affordably energy that is also sustainable is about the greatest challenge that our society faces.
Professor Chris Greig
Director, UQ Energy Initiative Director
Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation

With some of the best solar resources in the world, Queensland is home to innovative research into solar storage and new technologies enabling energy system integration. Explore the interactive power generation map to find out where Queensland’s renewable generating facilities are, and how they contribute to our energy mix.

Led by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, the Queensland Government has set a target for one million rooftops or 3000 megawatts of solar photovoltaics (PV) in Queensland by 2020 and is developing a credible pathway to achieving 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030.

The Queensland Government’s Department of State Development is leading Australia’s bio-economic revolution through the Biofutures 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan. The Plan includes: the establishment of Biofutures Queensland, a dedicated unit in the Queensland Government; a Biofutures Industry Development Fund; a Biofutures Scale-Up Program; and a Biofutures Acceleration Program. The State Government’s investment in a range of initiatives is helping position Queensland as an Asia-Pacific hub for biofutures industries.

Queensland has nine universities including three of Australia's largest, a number of which undertake energy research. Details of 200 plus research centres in Queensland are available by searching the Queensland science capability directory.

Leading energy research

  • Queensland Science…ENERGY…making a difference 02:45

    Find out why top researchers and industry leaders are saying Queensland is one of the best places in the world for energy research.

    Find out why top researchers and industry leaders are saying Queensland is one of the best places in the world for energy research.

View Energy video with Chinese subtitles

Energy research centres

Key research collaborations between industry and leading universities are focused on developing alternative energy sources such as biofuels and biogas and related new technologies. More than 75 institutes, facilities, precincts, laboratories and other research organisations are involved in the energy science sector including: