Electricity generation from gas

There is an increasing trend towards the use of natural gas in the generation of electricity. A number of power stations located across Queensland use natural gas as a fuel source in the generation of electricity, including the Swanbank E Power Station (pictured) .

Queensland Energy Policy initiatives like the Queensland Gas Scheme have been key drivers of economic growth and investment in gas infrastructure. In particular, the policy's requirement that at least 13 per cent of electricity sold in Queensland be from gas-fired generation has supported development of gas-fired generators in Queensland, including:

• a 243 MW gas-fired generator (Townsville Power Station) at Yabulu, north of Townsville
• a 450 MW gas-fired generator (Braemar Power Station) at Wambo, north-east of Dalby
• a 450 MW gas-fired generator (Braemar 2 Power Station) located adjacent to the Braemar Power Station at Wamboo, north-east of Dalby.

Further gas-fired generators currently under construction include:

• a 135 MW gas-fired generator (Condamine Power Station) at Miles, which will be fully operational by the end of 2009
• a 630 MW gas-fired generator (Darling Downs Power Station) located in the Darling Downs region, 40km west of Dalby, due to commence in 2009.

Building on the success of this scheme, the mandatory target for gas-fired generation in the state will increase from 13 per cent to 15 per cent in 2010, with the option to increase the target to 18 per cent by 2020. The Queensland Gas Scheme will be transitioned into the Federal Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme as soon as practicable.