Current intensity: 0.64 tCO₂e/MWh (26% renewable) · Updated
QLD1 · NEM, 30-min calculation
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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.
Queensland grid carbon intensity typically ranges from 0.3–0.5 tCO₂/MWh during peak solar hours to 0.7–0.9 tCO₂/MWh overnight when coal supplies the majority of demand. The live figure and 7-day trend are shown above.
Queensland has among the highest rooftop solar penetration in the world. Combined with utility-scale solar, this significantly reduces the coal share of generation during midday hours, creating a pronounced daily intensity trough.
Once solar output drops to zero, black coal power stations including Gladstone, Callide and Stanwell supply the bulk of demand, which is why overnight intensity in Queensland is materially higher than the midday figure.
gridIQ derives carbon intensity from AEMO generation dispatch data combined with published fuel-source emission factors, refreshed on the same cadence as the underlying generation-mix data.