QLD Electricity Spot Price Today

How Queensland's price behaves

Queensland is a large, coal-backed region with one of the highest rates of rooftop solar in the world. Through the middle of the day, rooftop systems cut the demand the grid has to meet, and utility-scale solar farms across the Darling Downs and central Queensland add to supply. In spring and autumn that pushes the midday price low and, on mild sunny days, below zero.

The evening is a different market. Once solar fades, coal, gas, hydro and a growing fleet of batteries meet the evening peak, and prices rise sharply, most of all on hot summer evenings when air conditioning lifts demand. The spread between the midday low and the evening high is what makes Queensland attractive for battery storage.

Interconnectors

Queensland connects to New South Wales through the Queensland–New South Wales Interconnector (QNI) and the smaller Terranora link. Queensland is often a net exporter, sending power south when its own prices are lower. When those links are full, Queensland's price can separate from the rest of the market in either direction.

Renewable energy zones

Queensland's renewable energy zones, including the Southern Queensland and Western Downs areas, are where much of the state's new wind and solar connects. The pace of connection in those zones, and the network strength available there, shapes both curtailment and the price new projects actually capture. Our grid connection studies look at exactly that before a project commits.