Queensland’s Energy Roadmap 2025 marks a major shift to focus more heavily on reliability. The state is now prioritising firm and dispatchable generation, particularly gas as one of the backbones of future energy system stability.
The Roadmap forecasts that Queensland’s gas-fired generation capacity could reach up to 4.1GW by 2030, increasing to between 6.1GW and 8.3GW by 2035, up from around 3.5GW today.
What does this mean for developers, investors, and OEMs?
Queensland’s policy pivot toward reliability
In December 2025, the Queensland Government introduced the Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025, which resets the strategic direction for the state’s energy transition over the next five years and beyond.
Previously focused on renewable-only targets, the new Roadmap emphasises private investment in gas, new generation, and energy storage to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy. It underscores the role of natural gas in supporting the state’s future energy needs, while maintaining a 2050 net zero emissions target.
Australian Energy Producers Queensland Director Keld Knudsen said the new Roadmap sends a clear signal that gas will continue to be essential to Queensland’s energy reliability and economic strength.
Gas is now central to the future grid
The Queensland Government has made clear in its Roadmap that gas will play a stabilising role during the transition. The aim is to support the grid when wind and solar output falls and ensure the state can meet demand without interruption.
Currently, Queensland operates around 3.5GW of gas-fired generation, but the state is expected to require up to 4.1GW by 2030. It’s scaling to between 6.1 and 8.3GW by 2035 or more than doubling today’s capacity.
Another key priority in the Roadmap is the delivery of an additional 400MW of gas-fired generation capacity in Central Queensland as critical insurance for long-term energy security.
Queensland’s Treasurer and Energy Minister, David Janetzki, emphasised this in launching the Roadmap, saying “Gas has emerged as a critical technology for system reliability and firming as the generation mix changes over time.”
The Roadmap also frames natural gas as the perfect complement to renewable energy and it provides an important bridge to net zero. Its ability to start quickly and reliably makes it the cheapest and most flexible form of backup generation.
As Janetzki explained:
“Natural gas is the perfect complement to renewable energy; it’s fast-response, so it can be used to firm up energy supply as the share of wind and solar generation grows.”
He noted the need to improve the energy assets we’ve got while we build what we need for the future. The state will need new gas capacity across all market outlooks to de-risk the system during the transition.
Where investment is already flowing
Queensland’s shift toward reliability is already driving a pipeline of major gas projects, and Arche Energy is supporting the developments in gas turbine engineering and project delivery.
1. Brigalow Gas Peaker
Brigalow is one of Queensland’s flagship new gas-fired projects, contributing to the state’s forecast of natural gas power plants with a capacity of up to 400MW.
Appointed by Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE), Arche is supporting the project with:
- multi-disciplinary engineering design management and project management
- Balance of Plant (BOP) scope coordination and integration
- core engineering development
- integration of Queensland legislative and regulatory frameworks
- safety in design reviews and workshops
- RPEQ reviews and certification.
2. Lockyer Energy Project
A hybrid energy project located north of Gatton in the Lockyer Valley, the Lockyer Energy Project supports Queensland’s energy transition by delivering hydrogen-ready, high efficiency aero-derivative gas turbines for longer power supply during peak periods or when solar and wind energy are not available.
Arche Energy partnered closely with Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners to provide ongoing development services and project management support.
3. Swanbank’s OCGT investigations
CleanCo is progressing investigations into a new open-cycle gas turbine (OCGT) at Swanbank.
Swanbank E was the largest gas turbine in Australia at the time of its commissioning. The plant features an Alstom GT26 gas turbine with a capacity of 385MW and uses highly efficient combined-cycle technology.
Arche supported the project in several roles, including Projects and Contracts Manager, Assistant Asset Manager, Performance Engineer, Asset Manager, and Overhaul Project Manager.
What this mean for developers, investors, OEMs, and industrial energy users?
Queensland is going to build a lot more gas power that opens more work, more opportunities, and more demand for everyone involved in gas projects.
Developers now have a better chance of getting projects approved and funded because of extra government support.
The government has created new pathways for investors to get involved in gas projects. One example is the planned Central Queensland Gas Power Tender.
Because Queensland plans to increase gas capacity from 3.5GW today to as much as 8.3GW by 2035, demand for equipment such as gas turbines, components and technical services will increase as well.
Future‑ready gas projects start here
As Queensland’s leading gas turbine Owner’s Engineer, we bring you recent experience backed by decades in gas project delivery, gas turbine asset management, and commissioning.
If you’re advancing a gas project in Queensland, click the Enquire Now button to contact Arche and accelerate your project from concept to energisation.