In exciting news for renewable energy companies and the Qld economy, the A$1.5bn “Copper Spring” project is moving towards the final stages of development following agreement with the major industrial energy users in the area.

The massive planned project, a joint venture between local development company CuString and Leighton Contractors, involves building more than 1,000km of transmission line, including a 720km high-voltage link between Townsville and Mount Isa, and an additional 210km of lines and substations to connect remote energy users.

Proponents say that with access to the national grid, clean-energy projects, the area, which has an extremely favourable profile for solar power, could deliver more than 1GW of clean renewable power.

Not surprisingly the development is expected to kick-start wind, solar and geothermal projects across the so-called Northern Australia Sustainable Resources Corridor, and as well as being a major investment magnet it will also be a boon for employment; generating up to 1,000 jobs.

Townsville-based energy consultant John O’Brien, a CuString director and the project’s founder, says reaching agreement with the major energy users involved, thought to be miners Xstrata, BHP Billiton and chemical and fertiliser manufacturer Incitec Pivot, reduces uncertainty around potential investment.

“The Queensland government has stimulated significant activity in renewable-energy projects in the clean-energy corridor, particularly through its investigation of large-scale solar projects. We expect this development investment to grow further as the probability of CopperString proceeding grows,” says O’Brien.

There is a great deal of interest already in multiple projects from Australian and overseas companies. For instance California-based CSP developer BrightSource Energy is also said to be looking at the project. Its Australian representative, Andrew Dyer, declines to comment, but has previously described the region as a solar hot spot.The government is proving willing to invest heavily themselves in turning the area into a clean-energy hub; As part of a deal with  independent Member of Parliament Bob Katter following last year’s tight election, the minority Labor government committed A$185m of federal cash for the transmission line, A$2m for pre-feasibility works to develop renewables projects along the line and A$350m to construct a large-scale solar generation plant.

It looks like the next 12-18months will be an exciting time for alternative energy in Queensland!