The Australian Pipelines and Gas Association (APGA) welcomes the release of Queensland’s Energy Roadmap 2025, describing it as a balanced and pragmatic blueprint that recognises the critical role of gas in firming renewables, maintaining reliability and supporting industrial growth as the state transitions to net zero.
The Energy Roadmap sets out a major expansion of gas generation capacity from 3.5 GW today to as much as 8.3 GW by 2035 and commits to delivering new gas-fired projects as part of Queensland’s long-term reliability and system-security strategy.
APGA chief executive Steve Davies said the Energy Roadmap demonstrates clear leadership and reinforces a growing national consensus that gas remains essential to Australia’s energy transition.
“Queensland has long understood the importance of gas to its economy and energy security,” Mr Davies said.
“The Roadmap confirms gas is a critical technology for reliability and firming renewables as the generation mix changes. It’s a welcome signal to the market, identifying gas-powered generation as ‘no-regrets’ infrastructure, vital for ensuring dispatchable capacity is available as coal exits and renewables scale up.”
Across Australia, there is a clear consensus among governments, regulators and system planners that firm, dispatchable gas generation is essential to maintaining reliability as more renewables enter the system.
Australia’s most renewable mainland state, South Australia, continues to rely on gas to stabilise its grid during periods of low wind and solar output. The state’s proposed Firm Energy Reliability Mechanism (FERM) will underwrite new long-duration dispatchable capacity, including gas-fired generation, to maintain system strength and affordability as renewable penetration increases. Likewise, AEMO has repeatedly confirmed that more flexible gas generation will be essential to meeting reliability standards as coal exits the market.
The draft Nelson Review also reinforced gas generation will continue to play a vital role in Australia’s future electricity system. Similarly, the WA Government has reaffirmed the need for new gas generation to support its decarbonisation strategy, while the NSW Government, through its Investment Delivery Authority, has included a pathway for new GPG projects as a key component of its energy security investment framework.
“This growing alignment across states and energy market bodies shows that credible energy planning requires gas,” Mr Davies said. “Queensland’s plan captures that balance by backing renewables while ensuring reliability and affordability for households and industry.”
“It is a welcome signal to the market, but investment in new gas-fired generation will only occur if policy frameworks provide clear and durable investment signals,” he added. “If governments want this capacity to be available when it is needed most, investors must have the confidence to build it today.”
About
The Australian Pipelines and Gas Association (APGA) represents the owners, operators, designers, constructors, and service providers of Australia’s pipeline infrastructure, connecting natural and renewable gas production to demand centres in cities and other locations across Australia. Our members offer a wide range of services to gas users, retailers and producers and ensure the safe and reliable delivery of 28 per cent of the end-use energy consumed in Australia.
Contact
For further information or the opportunity to engage with Mr Steve Davies please contact: Paul Purcell
Corporate Affairs Manager
0422 247 750
ppurcell@apga.org.au