Leaders discuss energy issues

Inaugural summit addresses national supply concerns

POLITICAL and industry leaders will this week chart a roadmap to shoring up the nation’s energy supply at an inaugural summit.

Ahead of Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise’s National Energy Summit, which begins tomorrow, a number of leaders have released policy platforms regarding the creation of affordable, sustainable and reliable energy supplies.

AGL Energy head of economics, policy and sustainability and summit keynote speaker Dr Tim Nelson said it was critical a long-term policy roadmap was developed for “ensuring the transition under way is achieved at lowest possible cost while maintaining system security”.

“It is incredibly important that governments, market operators, investors, utilities and local communities discuss how best to transition the electricity industry to a decarbonised future,” Dr Nelson said in a statement.

Developers behind a 100MW solar farm at Yarranlea, about 45km south-west of Toowoomba, will join a panel discussion tapping into the three issues impacting the nation’s energy supply.

Icubed consulting principal consultant Nick Canto in December received approval from the Toowoomba Regional Council to develop the $200 million solar farm on the Darling Downs.

Mr Canto said the Yarranlea site was chosen in large part due to its “proximity to a highly skilled and available workforce” which he said could be replicated across the region.

“Toowoomba and the Surat Basin are ideal locations for the development of renewable energy assets due to the region’s extensive electrical transmission network, road networks and the obviously available solar resource,” Mr Canto said.

The two-day summit starts tomorrow night with a keynote address by Department of Energy and Water Supply Director-General Professor Paul Simshauser, followed by a full-day conference with panel discussions and presentations on Thursday.

Tickets are available until 5pm today.

Visit tsbe.com.au for more details and to book.