Meeting will highlight opportunities Solar summit to power up
A SOLAR energy summit will highlight the huge opportunites that exist for North Queensland and how it can capitilise on the region’s renewables boom.
The Australian Solar Council will hold the first Powering North Queensland Summit in Townsville from next Thursday.
“There has been an unprecedented level of investment in renewable energy in North Queensland in the last two years,” said John Grimes, CEO of the Australian Solar Council and Energy Storage Council.
“Queensland has 17 largescale projects under way that have created 2200 new jobs in regional centres.”
Mr Gimes said the had huge potential.
“Queensland’s energy revolution is unstoppable and opportunities in this sector are boundless,” he said.
“North Queensland sector is off and racing and primed to become a national renewable power hub.
“Household power prices have doubled in the last five years because our energy infrastructure is ageing and inefficient, and fossil fuel prices are linked to international markets.”
Mr Grimes said the solution was locally generated renewable power.
“Renewables are the cheapest energy source and we have the technology, the natural as- sets and the local skills to build new renewable energy grids for Queenslanders.
“Not only will North Queensland secure its own energy future, it will lead the charge nationally.”
As North Queensland already has the greatest number of rooftop solar installations of any state or territory, Mr Grimes said now was the time to activate our large- scale renewables potential.
“We must think big, and strengthen North Queensland’s capacity to secure longterm, steady jobs for our region.”
Participants are encouraged to attend from various areas including renewable energy project developers and investors, solar and storage and renewable energy companies, energy and infrastructure companies, North Queensland industry bodies, State Government officials, local government representatives, and community groups.