Qld’s $570 million battery strategy to create 9,100 jobs and add $1.3 billion to economy

Queensland is poised to become Australia’s renewable energy “superpower” after unveiling a $570 million battery industry investment.

Premier Steven Miles on Thursday announced the multimillion-dollar strategy that is forecast to contribute $1.3 billion to the economy and create 9,100 jobs by 2030.

The five-year plan will deliver jobs in battery technologies and manufacturing and “supercharge” industry innovation, commercialisation, investment and supply chain growth, he said.

It’s hoped the strategy will strengthen Queensland’s position as a globally competitive investment destination.

Miles backed Queensland’s battery market to excel on the world stage thanks to an abundance of resources and a skilled workforce.

“These are highly technology-driven jobs and if we get the technology investment here, we can compete on price,” he said on Thursday.

“What we also have is that security of supply … for big economies, Japan, Europe and North America, that certainty of supply has a real value.”

Miles said the strategy developed plans to not only export critical minerals and manufactured batteries overseas but also implement them into local industry and the energy grid.

Under the plan, $105 million will be allocated towards establishing the Australian Battery Industrialisation Centre with the federal government.

Think tank Climate Energy Finance (CEF) said Queensland was becoming the nation’s “cleantech leader”.

“The battery strategy is further evidence that Queensland is not just undergoing an energy transition but a complete transformation from a legacy coal and gas petrostate to a renewable energy and critical minerals superpower,” CEF director Tim Buckley said.

The Queensland Conservation Council welcomed the battery strategy, saying it was a step toward the state realising its significant clean manufacturing potential.

Miles announced an emissions target of 75% below 2005 levels by 2035 when he became premier in December.

Laws to legislate the increased emissions reductions were introduced to parliament last week.

This article was first published by AAP.