Across Australia, governments, businesses and communities are working together to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Australian Government has launched its Bringing New Energy campaign in the Hunter and Central Queensland to show how the regions are powering Australia's net zero transition.
What is net zero?
Net zero means balancing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that go into and are removed from the atmosphere.
How do we achieve net zero emissions?
Reaching net zero is about much more than just switching to renewable energy. It requires a major economic transformation, particularly in our important regional communities.
Some of the ways we are building a net zero economy include:
- Building new energy infrastructure like wind, solar and batteries
- Building new industries of the future, like hydrogen production for cleaner fuel
- Decarbonising existing industries like manufacturing, agriculture and mining
- Manufacturing renewable technologies like solar panels
- New research and commercialisation initiatives
- Training new and current workers
- Improving our cities by reducing waste and making buildings more energy efficient.
What does net zero mean for the Hunter?
The Hunter has always played a vital role in powering the nation. Now as Australia moves towards net zero, the region is undergoing an economic transformation, creating new industries, jobs and opportunities.
- New industries: the Hunter’s economy is expanding to include new industries of the future
- Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub: 52,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved annually, received $70 million through the Australian Government’s Regional Hydrogen Hubs Program
- New jobs: as the Hunter’s economy changes, it is creating up to 10,000 new jobs in renewable energy, manufacturing and construction. [KPMG, ‘Economic Briefing – August | Economic Transition Forces in the Hunter’, 2023, accessed 11 September 2024(Opens in a new tab/window)]
- New investment: new projects in the planning or delivery stages are bringing billions of dollars of investment to the Hunter. The new Port of Newcastle Clean Energy Precinct will receive $100 million from the Australian Government (October 2022-23 Budget).
- New life for old facilities: historic mines are being rehabilitated, like the Rhondda Colliery, which is transforming into a motor park and tourism facility. Once completed, this will be Australia’s first dedicated resort park for motoring fans. It will create: 450+ construction jobs and 229 permanent roles.
MGA Thermal Video Case Study
What does net zero mean for Central Queensland?
Central Queensland has always been a place where things are made and exported to the world. Now as Australia moves towards net zero, the region is undergoing an important economic transformation, creating new industries, jobs and opportunities.
- New industries: the region’s economy is diversifying to include new industries of the future
- Hydrogen: the Central Queensland Hydrogen Project will create: $17.2 billion hydrogen exports, 8,900 new jobs
- New jobs: as the region’s economy changes, it is creating new jobs in the renewable energy, construction and manufacturing sectors. Alpha HPA is building Australia’s first high-purity alumina processing facility in Gladstone with 490 jobs created during construction and 200 on completion.
- New energy sources: many emissions-intensive industries are changing. Rio Tinto recently signed Australia’s biggest renewable energy deal to power its Boyne aluminium smelter.
- New investment: new projects are bringing billions of dollars of investment to the region. This includes: 50 large-scale energy projects and $11 billion in investment.
To find out how the Hunter and Central Queensland regions are powering the energy transformation, visit futuremadeinaustralia.gov.au(Opens in a new tab/window).