SW Queensland at heart of solving energy crisis

SOUTH-west Queensland could have the solutions to Australia’s energy crisis and it all lies in a comprehensive plan put forward by a university professor.

Professor Simon Bartlett, from the University of Queensland, made a submission to the Federal Government’s Finkel Review, proposing a “meshing” of the National Energy Market by linking south-west Queensland’s gas and solar resources to the power network with an interconnector.

Under the professor’s plan, the interconnector would run energy from south-west Queensland’s solar and gas sources through the power grid down into South Australia.

Professor Bartlett recently discussed the idea with mayors from south-west Queensland councils, who have enthusiastically supported his plan.

“The bit that really interested them (about meshing the NEM) was it would provide an opportunity for a new energy industry in their shires, namely a major solar power generation source,” he said.

“This part of Australia is a huge energy resource for the whole country with gas and, hopefully one day, renewable energy.”

Professor Bartlett’s plan was raised at the National Energy Summit in Toowoomba last week by South West Regional Economic Development group chair Lindsay Godfrey.

Cr Godfrey, who is also the mayor of Paroo Shire Council, described Professor Bartlett as “an amazing thinker in the energy space” and reaffirmed South West RED’s support for the plan.

“When you get the map out and look at it, it’s not as far as you would think and it doesn’t cost as much,” Cr Godfrey said.

“The professor’s doing a lot of cost benefit study on this area, in this space. But for the moment the idea of having a circular grid for the National Energy Market is key to efficiencies in his mind.”

During his speech to the summit, Cr Godfrey explained how the professor’s plan would allow solar resources in towns such as Quilpie and Thargomindah to hook up to the grid.

“Those solar operations are two or three times as efficient as others because of our climate,” Cr Godfrey said.

While Professor Bartlett’s plan may have the support of some academics and the mayors of south-west Queensland, Cr Godfrey pointed out that it doesn’t fit with either side of the current energy debate.