Queensland Carbon Intensity

Queensland Grid Carbon Intensity

Queensland's grid carbon intensity reflects a generation fleet that combines large black coal power stations — including Gladstone, Callide, and Stanwell — with a rapidly growing portfolio of utility-scale solar farms. The state's rooftop solar penetration is among the highest in Australia, creating a distinctive daily intensity pattern with significantly lower emissions during midday hours.

Overnight and in the early morning, when solar output drops to zero and coal plants supply the majority of demand, Queensland's grid intensity typically rises to 0.7–0.9 tCO₂/MWh. During peak solar hours, intensity can fall to 0.3–0.5 tCO₂/MWh depending on the level of coal generation that remains online.

The Queensland gas market, influenced by LNG export dynamics, affects dispatch economics for gas-fired generators and indirectly influences the carbon intensity of the grid. Tracking these patterns helps energy buyers in Queensland optimise both costs and emissions.