Published on DNRME Disclosure Log RTI Act 2009
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From: Energy ODDG [[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, 6 June 2017 1:11 PM To: DEWS Energy Division CC: SIMSHAUSER Paul; BOWERMAN Melissa; ANGLESEY Jodana Subject: DDG Update June 2017 Attachments: Powering Queensland Plan.pdf; s.73 s.73 s.73 Stabilising electricity prices for Queensland consumers.pdf; Palaszczuk Government powers up an energy and jobs bonanza; s.73 s.73 s.73 Palaszczuk Government powers up an energy and jobs bonanza /storage/emulated/0/.polaris_temp/image1.jpeg Hi all, Powering Queensland Plan DNRME Yesterday the Premier, Treasurer and Minister Bailey announced the $1.16 billion Powering Queensland Plan, which brings together key actions on electricity prices, wholesale markets, renewable energyLog and energy security. This is one of the most significant pieces of work I have been involved in duringsch4p4(on my 6) Personal years information in the Division. 2009 Act Disclosure PublishedRTI s.73 Attached is the overarching Plan along with supporting factsheets. Please familiarise yourself with the plan, as it will shape our forward work plan as a Division. s.73 18-040 File A 1 of 18 s.73 Thanks again to all. s.73 Regards, Benn Barr Deputy Director-General, Energy DNRME Log on 2009 Act Disclosure PublishedRTI 18-040 File A 2 of 18 Department of Energy and Water Supply Powering Queensland Plan Transmission lines,lines, rural QQueenslandue The Queensland Government is investing $1.16 billion to ensure Queenslanders can continue to enjoy an affordable, secure and sustainable supply of electricity. DNRME ACTIONSLog The plan addresses Queensland's on ► Provide electricity price relief by investing $770 million to cover the cost of the Solar Bonus Scheme current and future energy needs ► Return Swanbank E gas-fired power station to service Australia’s energy markets are facing significant challenges relating to electricity ► Direct2009 Stanwell Corporation to undertake strategies to and gas prices, system security, gas place downward pressure on wholesale prices availability, and energy and climate policy. ► Investigate the restructure of Government owned These challenges are being driven by closure generators and the establishment of a ‘CleanCo’ of ageing coal-fired generation and gas Act supply restrictions in southern states, a lack ► Deliver a $386 million Powering North Queensland Plan of investor confidence and an uncertain to strengthen and diversify the north’s energy supply national policy. Disclosureand create a North Queensland clean energy hub ThesePublished challenges are resulting in higher ► Confirm the Government's commitment to a 50 per prices for households and businesses, andRTI if cent renewable energy target by 2030 left unaddressed may threaten energy security and Australia’s ability to meet its ► Facilitate the next wave of up to 400 megawatts of emissions reduction targets. diversified renewable energy, including 100 megawatts of energy storage through a reverse auction The Powering Queensland Plan sets out the Government’s strategy to guide the state ► Improve large-scale renewable project facilitation, through the short-term and long-term planning and network connections challenges occurring in the market. The plan aims to deliver stable energy prices, ensure ► Establish the Queensland Energy Security Taskforce long-term security of electricity supply, ► Implement the Queensland Gas Action Plan and release transition to a cleaner energy sector and over 450 square kilometres of new gas tenure for create new investment and jobs. supply to the Australian market ► Continue to advocate for stable, integrated national climate and energy policies Release 18-040 File A 3 of 18 Our actions in more detail Provide electricity price relief by Return Swanbank E gas-fired investing $770 million to cover the power station to service cost of the Solar Bonus Scheme As a result of extreme heat wave events in The Queensland Government is committed to Queensland and in southern states, there has been stable electricity prices and due in part to the significant volatility and upward pressure on Government's efforts, average residential wholesale electricity prices across the National electricity bills have risen by just 1.2 per cent per Electricity Market. Increasing generation supply will annum over the last two years. DNRMEhelp minimise future volatility and reinforce the state’s energy security over the coming summers. However, the Government understands that recent supply and demand shocks have led to To achieveLog this objective, the Queensland unprecedented increases in wholesale energyon Government has directed Stanwell to return its 385 prices in Queensland and across the National megawatt Swanbank E power station to service in Electricity Market. late 2017 to support the market over the summer period. To ensure continued price stabilisation, the Government has: The Queensland2009 Government does not want to see a repeat of the events of last summer, including ► directed Energy Queensland to remove the record wholesale prices and load shedding in cost of the Solar Bonus Scheme from southern states in February 2017 due to electricity bills over the next three years unprecedented demand on the electricity system – which put industrial customers and jobs at risk. ► reissued a new delegation to the Queensland Act Competition Authority to set 2017–18 prices Wholesale costs make up a larger proportion of in line with the reduced rates. electricity bills for large customers – industrial users This action will limit the billDisclosure increase for a typical and manufacturing plant – meaning they are more regionalPublished household customer in 2017–18 to around exposed to the impacts of market volatility. 3.3 per cent, and place downward pressureRTI on The Queensland Government understands an prices in 2018–19 and 2019–20. The benefits will affordable and secure energy supply is essential for also flow to South East Queensland customers. As a a strong economy, which is why we are acting to result, the bill for a typical household will have protect our industrial customers most affected by increased by just over 1.9 per cent per annum over wholesale market volatility, as well as the jobs they the last three years. provide. The cost of the Solar Bonus Scheme will be By bringing Swanbank E back online for summer transferred to the Government at an estimated 2017-18, the Queensland Government aims to cost of $770 million. support more stable wholesale prices in Queensland, helping to ensure Queensland customers continue to have security of supply even when demand is at its highest, protecting jobs and our economy. Release 18-040 File A 4 of 18 DNRME Log on Koombooloomba Hydro Direct Stanwell Corporation to Investigate2009 the restructure of undertake strategies to place downward Government owned generators and pressure on wholesale prices the establishment of a ‘CleanCo’ As a shareholder of electricity assets, we have the In parallel with implementing other strategies to ability to take steps to counter some of the Actreduce wholesale prices, the Government will impacts being seen in the broader national investigate a restructure of Government owned electricity market that are resulting in higher generators to deliver improved market outcomes. wholesale prices and volatilityDisclosure during peak demand The Government will consider establishing a periods.Published separate ‘CleanCo’ generator to operate To complement the return of SwanbankRTI E, the Queensland’s existing renewable and low- Queensland Government has directed Stanwell to emissions energy generation assets and develop alter its bidding strategies to help put as much new renewable energy projects. downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices The investigation will provide recommendations to as possible. the Queensland Government in the first half of This action is only possible because we have kept 2018. our electricity assets in public hands, enabling the Government to deliver better outcomes for Queensland electricity consumers. Release Establishing a ‘CleanCo’ has the potential to deliver 18-040 File A improved market outcomes5 of 18 Deliver a $386 million Powering North Queensland Plan to strengthen and diversify the north’s energy supply and create a North Queensland clean energy hub Under the Powering North Queensland Plan, the Queensland Government will: ► Commit $150 million to develop strategic transmission infrastructure in North and North-West Queensland to support a clean energy hub, subject to a feasibility study. This will unlock around 2000 megawatts of renewable energy projects and support up to 4600 jobs. Tableland Sugar Mill Cairns Mount Emerald Windnd Farm ► Provide a $100 million equity injection into HighH RoRoad Wind Farm SunWater and reinvestment of dividends to Kidston Forsayth Wind Farm HHydroydro TownsvilleTo deliver improvement works to ensure that the Ross River Solar Farm Kidston Solar Projectct ProProjectject Sun Metals Solar Farm Burdekin Falls Dam continues to meet design DNRME Clare Solar Farm standards. These works, which are estimated Hughenden Sun Farmm Kennedy Energy Park - Solar to support 250 jobs, will support the proposed Log KennedyKKennedy EnergyEnerg Park - Wind hydro-electric power station. on ► Invest a further $100 million to help fund a 50 megawatt hydro-electric power station at the Indicative transmission path in North Queensland dam, subject to completion of a business case. The Burdekin Falls power project will create 200 jobs during construction and generate 2009 enough electricity