en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Queensland Government of Australia has launched a AUD 200 million (approximately USD 143.3 million) funding program, inviting proposals for solar, wind, battery storage, and other energy projects aimed at enhancing the stability of electricity supply in the state's remote northwest region.
This call for proposals is part of the Northwest Energy Fund (NWEF), seeking submissions for new solar and wind projects, battery energy storage systems, and other measures that can support the power system in Northwest Queensland. The NWEF is a complementary initiative of the Queensland Government's reform of the CopperString transmission project, which plans to connect the grid between Townsville and Mount Isa to the National Electricity Market (NEM) through new transmission lines.
Managed by the state-owned investment agency Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), the fund aims to collaborate with the private sector to support the delivery of new power generation and storage solutions in areas such as Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Julia Creek, and Richmond, in parallel with the CopperString transmission project. QIC stated that the fund will evaluate a range of proposals, including new solar and wind projects, gas-fired power generation, and battery energy storage systems, as well as other broad support for the northwest power system. Meanwhile, related planning work will inform the CopperString West Line connection between Hughenden and Mount Isa.
Prior to this call for proposals, QIC conducted market research with developers, generators, electricity distributors, suppliers, customers, and local governments in and around Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Julia Creek, and Richmond. QIC's Global Head of Infrastructure, Ross Israel, stated that the market research provided critical information, enabling the agency to rapidly advance efforts to match private capital with priority projects in the northwest region.
"Supporting near-term investable projects that provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy will help unlock economic development opportunities in the northwest," he said. "A key part of this work is conducting the necessary studies to determine the final system solution, thereby optimizing the energy project portfolio in the region. QIC's role is to translate the goals of the Queensland Energy Roadmap into investable projects that deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy. The Northwest Energy Fund provides a clear pathway for QIC to collaborate on near-term opportunities."
QIC has released investment guidelines outlining key criteria: proposals must deliver benefits or achieve commercial operation by 2030 and demonstrate the ability to reduce electricity supply costs in and around the northwest region. Queensland Energy Minister David Janetzki stated that the NWEF builds on the state government's commitment to delivering the CopperString project and advancing economic development in the northwest. "This fund allows us to pass on the benefits of CopperString to communities west of Hughenden, while accelerating the delivery of the project's eastern connection," he said.
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