As Queensland bids farewell to its black-gold past, a surge of solar panels and wind turbines is reshaping the grid—and the politics—of Australia’s Sunshine State.

From the corrugated rooftops of suburban Brisbane to the scrubby outback near Mount Isa, Queensland’s renewable revolution is gathering pace. Once reliant on ageing coal stations, the state now generates more than half its electricity from wind, solar and hydro. Spiralling investment, ambitious government targets and landmark transmission schemes such as CopperString 2032 promise to decarbonise not just the grid but the wider economy—if politics and ageing coal plants don’t get in the way.

CopperString: Powering the Far North

CopperString 2032, a 1,100 km transmission link from Townsville to Mount Isa, has become the symbol of Queensland’s new energy age. When completed, it will unlock the vast wind and solar resources of the North West Minerals Province and provide critical capacity for battery, pumped hydro and green-hydrogen projects.

Yet costs have ballooned. What began as a A$1.8 billion proposal has swollen to almost A$14 billion after network-strength upgrades and remote-site works were added. The state government’s decision to partner with Queensland Investment Corporation and Powerlink has soothed nerves among investors, but the schedule remains tight. Early-works funding of A$2.4 billion is now under contract, with substations near Hughenden due online by 2027.

“CopperString will be the backbone of north Queensland’s economy,” says Amrita Singh, chief executive of QIC Infrastructure. “Without it, new mines and renewables projects simply cannot scale.”

Election Afterglow—or Hangover?

Australia’s recent federal election handed Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party its largest majority since World War II. With a pledge to reach 82% renewables by 2030, plus A$2.3 billion in home-battery subsidies, policy stability appears to be a new norm. Yet the Coalition still courts voters in mining regions with promises of expanded gas and delayed coal retirements. Meanwhile, the Greens press for a 100% renewables mandate and an outright ban on new fossil-fuel developments.

For grid planners, the result is both reassuring and unsettling. “We finally have certainty on emissions targets,” notes Dr. Elaine Moretti, a renewable-energy analyst at the University of Queensland. “But the debate over gas continues—its role as a transition fuel leaves investors guessing.”

Coal’s Swan Song

Queensland’s coal-fired power stations average 38 years of age—well beyond the global norm of 35 years. As Tarong and Gladstone edge toward retirement, margins of reserve capacity tighten. Seasonal peaks already see volatility in wholesale prices, exposing households and businesses to spikes when old units trip offline.

To shore up reliability, the state has earmarked 3 GW of fast-start gas turbines and deployed synchronous condensers to bolster inertia. On the green side, plans call for 25 GW of new renewables, 6 GW of pumped hydro storage and 3 GW of batteries by 2035.

Chart: Queensland’s Renewable Capacity vs. Coal Plant Retirement Schedule

Source: ARIA, Technical Papers

Investment Climate

Queensland’s sunshine, coastal wind corridors and vast tracts of remote land have attracted domestic and global capital. The state’s A$4.5 billion Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund has sweetened the pot, while bipartisan backing for transmission projects promises long-term network access.

Successful green-field plays include:

• The 453 MW Wambo and Tarong West wind farms (A$801 million), lifting regional output by 15%.
• A$500 million Lotus Creek wind operation, the first large-scale asset by CS Energy.
• The 150 MW Swanbank battery (A$275 million), stabilising Brisbane’s grid.

“Investors are seeing Queensland as a one-stop shop for renewables,” explains Marcus Lee, head of clean-energy deals at Aurora Capital. “Government guarantees make big-ticket projects bankable.”

Photo: Stanwell: Tarong West Wind Farm

The Road Ahead

Queensland’s transition like any in a world of energy competition, rather than transition will have to face down challenges. Cost inflation, network bottlenecks and political brinkmanship over gas risk slowing progress. Yet the momentum is undeniable: the coal stations powering the state’s economy barely half a decade ago now play a shrinking role. Whether pumps spin at Borumba Dam or turbines turn in the Darling Downs, Queensland is betting its prosperity on sunshine and sea breezes.

For those willing to navigate the regulatory cross currents, the rewards could be as vast as the state itself—and just as bright.