Here in Gladstone, we’ve always made things.
Gladstone is a town with manufacturing at its heart. We have a long history as an industrial powerhouse, based on the export of coal, aluminium and alumina, sulfuric acid, and meat products, enabled by a world-class, deep water port. In recent years Gladstone has diversified to become one of the largest LNG export ports.
Renewable Energy Industrial Precincts in Gladstone, Queensland and the Hunter Valley, New South Wales will add a windfall of $13 billion to the economy and 45,000 ongoing jobs by 2032.
Read the key findings of new research released by leading economic analysts ACIL Allen, commissioned by Beyond Zero Emissions and WWF-Australia.
Gladstone is protecting its industrial heritage by diversifying its energy supply, drawing from abundant wind and solar resources in the Central Queensland region. In fact, the region is playing a starring role in Australia’s ambition to become a renewable energy superpower.
Gladstone offers several advantages as a Renewable Energy Industrial Precinct:
Gladstone is home to a range of heavy industries and large energy users including Queensland Alumina and Yarwun Alumina (which combined make it the world’s largest alumina production port), Boyne aluminium smelter and the 3 LNG liquefaction plants on Curtis island. The aging coal-fired power station Gladstone Power Station sits in the heart of the city.
As well as the aluminium smelter, alumina refineries and the LNG plants, small and medium enterprises have been drawn to Gladstone’s industrial strengths, including cement and chemical manufacturing.
Gladstone’s skilled and nimble workforce are experienced in meeting the exacting high quality and safety standards required in constructing and operating large scale industrial plants.
Gladstone is now at a crossroads. Diversifying the region’s energy mix is vital to the sustainability of its industries and creating enduring jobs for locals. While the pace of that energy transition is increasing, to maintain its competitiveness Gladstone must now complete those energy reforms.
The good news is many companies in Gladstone are already innovating:
For example, ASX-listed company Alpha HPA is developing a new high purity aluminium manufacturing plant which will supply products to the clean energy and mobility sector globally. They have committed to use sustainable electricity in the plant.
These plans are supported by the development of large new renewable energy projects in the wider Central Queensland region, including by Acciona, Central Queensland Power, Rodds Bay Solar Farm, Neoen, Epuron and Genex. The scale of the development in this region and across Queensland creates real opportunities to develop local supply chains and new manufacturing plants and businesses that service the renewable energy sector rather than purchasing supplies from overseas.
Gladstone is adjacent to the Central Queensland Renewable Energy Zone (which includes the Fitzroy and Banana Renewable Energy Zones) identified by the Queensland Government. The Gladstone State Development Area has identified a range of development-ready sites in locations with access to established infrastructure. These are particularly well suited for manufacturing and heavy industry uses.
Low-cost, reliable energy for the Gladstone Renewable Energy Industrial Precinct can be provided from the Central Queensland Renewable Energy Zone, which includes 2 GW of clean energy generation (including energy storage) from sites marked for new supply in the Central Queensland Power project, Rodds Bay Solar Farm (under development) and other projects.
The proposed Gladstone Grid Reinforcement (AEMO ISP) will help ensure reliable power supply. Beyond Zero Emissions is encouraging renewable energy developers and utilities to support the development of renewable energy industrial precincts by offering low-cost renewable energy supply to users within the precincts.
CQUniversity in Gladstone offers a range of TAFE and higher education courses, as well as innovative research endeavours, and has strong ties to industry. This includes applied research expertise in hydrogen, microgrids and the implementation and optimisation of energy systems.
Alumina refining at Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) and Yarwun Alumina Refinery have the potential to be powered by green hydrogen, with a consistent low price for firmed, reliable renewable energy providing long term cost savings for the Boyne smelter.
The Port of Gladstone, Cement Australia and the Orica Australia chemical processing complex are other flagship industries in Gladstone with potential to benefit from increased access to affordable, renewable energy including electricity and green hydrogen.
Construction of the Alpha HPA high purity aluminium complex is scheduled to commence in 2022. There are at least six different green hydrogen and green chemical projects proposed for Gladstone with the most recent announcement being Sumitomo Corporation’s appointment of JGC for the FEED contract for the first phase of their project.
With gigawatts of new clean energy projects projected to be needed to support Gladstone’s existing heavy industry operations, significant opportunities also exist for the development of new supply chain industries in and around Gladstone, including battery component manufacture and steel wind tower fabrication, creating further new opportunities for economic diversification and job creation.
Some of Australia’s most exciting and innovative manufacturing and technology companies have already given support for Renewable Energy Industrial Precincts.
Beyond Zero Emissions is collecting expressions of interest to demonstrate there is a strong demand for Renewable Energy Industrial Precincts in Gladstone.
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