The Queensland Government has launched a new interactive online map showcasing the renewable energy resources of the state in order to attract more green technology companies to invest in the state.
The Queensland Wind Map, developed by Hydro Tasmania Consulting, is available through the Queensland Government's Interactive Resource and Tenures Maps system (IRTM).
According to the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation’s Office of Clean Energy, the state has the natural resources necessary to become a renewable energy leader.
“The government is developing a collection of renewable energy maps to help lead clean energy companies to prime development sites in the state,” the Office’s website reads. “These maps will eventually include solar, wind and geothermal and are a key initiative of the Queensland Renewable Energy Plan.”
The initial release of the maps has wind mapping data for the state with future releases including information on infrastructure such as transmission networks and location of state owned land.
“As well as simplifying the process of identifying individual sites for development, the maps will also be used by the Office of Clean Energy to identify Renewable Energy Zones,” the site reads. “These Zones will be similar to a minerals province, and will be the prime areas of the state where access to state land will be facilitated, planning processes streamlined and incentives developed for renewable energy proponents.”
Queensland minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson said in a statement that in addition to the online energy maps, “prime areas” of the state where access to state land would be facilitated, planning processes streamlined and incentives developed for renewable energy proponents.
"This is a significant milestone in the Queensland Government's overarching plan to leverage $3.5 billion of renewable energy investment and to create 3,500 green jobs," he said.