Queensland’s new legislative environment, including the Energy Roadmap Amendment Bill 2025 and the transition to the Energy (Infrastructure Facilitation) Act, is designed to streamline approvals and strengthen transmission planning.
These changes make way for gas projects that demonstrate technical robustness and bankability are likely to move most quickly through this framework.
What these reforms mean for gas proponents
The Queensland Energy Roadmap signals a big expansion of gas-fired generation, with total capacity expected to reach up to 8.3GW by 2035. The plan positions gas as a stabilising force as more solar and wind enter the grid.
Gas projects have often faced uncertainty around approvals, transmission planning, government policy, financing, and grid connection. The updated framework further aims to reduce these barriers, so developers can move projects through approvals more efficiently.
The amended framework reduces development risk for gas proponents because Queensland now has clearer policies, a bigger strategic role for gas, faster transmission planning, simpler governance, and a market‑driven approval approach that rewards technically strong and financially credible gas projects.
Developers who can demonstrate that projects are technically feasible and financially effective, and aligned with Queensland’s transmission needs and reliability priorities, will have a greater chance to move forward.
Aligning technical definition with grid and stability needs
Queensland’s grid is changing quickly, with the new transmission lines and energy hubs are being planned in a more flexible and connected way. Gas projects therefore need to be designed to integrate with a grid that will continue to change.
Indeed, projects must match their technical and delivery plans to the system’s stability requirements and to the timing of new transmission infrastructure.
If the design doesn’t match with the NEM’s future needs, it might turn into delays or require redesign later. You need to plan carefully about what the grid can support and when the transmission network will be ready when you choose your:
- original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
- turbines
- construction schedule
- and commissioning timeframe.
In short, aligning your project’s design and delivery timeline with the grid’s needs is key to moving smoothly through Queensland’s new approvals system. Projects that plan for an evolving grid are presumably to connect on time and support system reliability.
Why early technical work and independent engineering matter
If a gas proponent wants their project to move smoothly, they need to do strong technical work early and get independent engineers to check it. Independent experts make sure that your:
- design makes sense
- equipment is suitable
- performance estimates are realistic
- costs are reasonable.
This independent validation helps the project look low‑risk and well‑prepared, which speeds up approvals.
So, in this new environment, early technical definition and independent engineering are decisive advantages. They help regulators trust the project, de‑risk technical assumptions, make transmission planning faster, improve bankability, and reduce delays at every step.
As Queensland’s leading gas turbine Owner’s Engineer, Arche can help you develop a technically resilient, investable and grid aligned gas project. Click on the Enquire Now button to contact us to discuss how we can support your feasibility, financing, approvals and delivery.
About Queensland’s new energy framework
The Queensland Government introduced the Energy Roadmap Amendment Bill 2025 on 16 October 2025 to update the Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Act 2024.
As part of the changes, the Act is renamed to be the Energy (Infrastructure Facilitation) Act 2024 to better reflect the goals set out in the Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025 (Roadmap).
The reforms shift Queensland’s energy planning approach by removing renewable energy targets and moving toward a more flexible, market-driven system focused on affordability, reliability and sustainability.
The Bill also strengthens the Priority Transmission Investment rules, making it easier for Queensland to plan and build the transmission needed to connect new power stations.
For developers, this means a clearer and more streamlined approvals pathway, particularly for gas plants, battery storage, and hybrid projects.