When you imagine a region primed to deliver green energy, with growing capabilities in hydrogen and sustainable fuels, but also nestled between two World Heritage ecosystems, and an island playground off its coast, you’d be forgiven for looking to an international example. But Australia’s most liveable future green manufacturing city is right here, in Townsville North, Queensland.
Townsville is on a journey, and one that places the capital of North Queensland in the driving seat as the country moves toward a clean economy to achieve net zero targets. Having received hundreds of millions of dollars in project announcements in the first quarter of 2024 alone, Townsville is fast gaining a reputation as the location of choice for private investors looking to fast-track renewable energy generation and green manufacturing, catapulting Northern Australia’s largest regional economy to the forefront of the global market.
Since 2023, following the Queensland Government announcement of the CopperString project to construct a 1,100km high-voltage electricity transmission line from Townsville to Mount Isa, an immediate economic flow-on effect has been seen right across the North and North West with investors including hydrogen proponents, wind and solar developers, and critical mineral battery manufacturers turning to Townsville to do business.
CopperString, combined with the region’s abundant solar and wind resources, makes Townsville the ideal location for renewable energy generation and green manufacturing – which will see the region play an important role in meeting the Queensland Government’s economic decarbonisation target of 80% renewable energy by 2035.
Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith says the region has long heralded the untapped potential of wind, solar and sunshine, and is now being taken seriously by public and private sector investors looking to move to a clean economy.
“We have positioned our city early on this new trend of renewables. We were the first Solar City in Australia in 2000. Korea Zinc built the largest solar farm at their Sun Metals facility here in Townsville
at the time. But the real game changer for investors was when we secured the CopperString project in March 2023. It has become a catalyst for our region and Australia, capitalising on our region’s strengths in wind, solar, water, and land, and diversifying our industrial portfolio to be the energy producer of the future, spearheading the national energy transition,” says Claudia.
“We’re on the precipice of a green industrial revolution, and global investors are standing up to take notice of North Queensland.
“Our region has laid its foundation in heavy industry, and our path forward with hydrogen and green manufacturing is the next chapter in our region’s story – securing thousands of future jobs, for now and tomorrow.”
The ambition of Townsville to become Australia’s most liveable green manufacturing city is moving closer to reality, and investors such as Jet Zero Australia have seen this opportunity, and are optimistic about the future ahead.
Jet Zero Australia and LanzaJet, in partnership with the Queensland Government, Airbus, and Qantas, recently announced an Engineering Agreement positioning Australia as a leader in the region on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), with Townsville selected to deliver Project Ulysses.
Jet Zero CEO Edward Mason says Project Ulysses, to be located in the Townsville region, aims to convert agricultural by-products sourced from sustainable origins into an impressive 102 million litres of SAF and 11 million litres of renewable diesel annually.
“With the aviation industry a leading contributor to excess CO2 in our atmosphere, the need for innovation and new technology is greater now more than ever, and we see Townsville as being uniquely placed to be the start of this solution in Australia,” says Edward.
“We know low emission fuel options will play a critical role in reducing CO2 and see the momentum shift in Townsville and North Queensland to take a leadership role in green manufacturing and renewable energies as a key reason for our move to invest in the region.”
As opportunity abounds and global recognition and awareness for Townsville as leaders in green industry continues to build, locally, this means a complete evolution in skills and career pathways for the North Queensland community.
Claudia adds that attracting more skilled workers and securing enabling infrastructure – such as housing
– will be key in delivering upon the region’s natural potential, and to deliver on the $7.5 billion project pipeline committed in 2024, which is expected to support 2,540 construction jobs and 1,030 ongoing operational jobs post construction.
“As locals, we can be proud of what this region is building to, and our offer is extremely compelling
as regional relocators from across the country are also turning their attention northward, where, with the right support in enabling infrastructure, the possibilities are indeed endless, and the future looks bright.”
Main Image: Port of Townsville
Image Credits: Townsville Enterprise
