The Western Green Energy Hub, a large scale renewable energy project has been announced by a consortium which includes InterContinental Energy and CWP Global. The project may contain up to 50GW of wind and solar across more than 15,000 square km. It may cost up to $75 billion, with first production commencing in the following decade. The new Australia project would produce as much as 3.5 million tons of green hydrogen or 20 million tons of green ammonia per year for export and domestic use.
InterContinental Energy and CWP Global, are also engaged in the Asian Renewable Energy Hub, another proposed significant green power project that was rejected last month by Australia’s environment minister.
The primary issue for a large project like the Western Green Energy Hub, apart from environmental permits, is finding buyers. It is early to predict, but it is probable that the majority of the hydrogen from the hub will be exported by ship, which will become expensive when compared to local output from expensive hydrogen producers, such as Japan and South Korea. Green fuels generated at the facility will fulfil huge future demand from a variety of industries.
The hub will be developed in stages and would take advantage of Western Australia’s abundant wind and solar energy. A $20 billion project called the Sun Cable is scheduled to develop a 14GW solar farm as well as a 33GW-hour energy storage facility in Australia’s Northern Territory. This is Currently the world’s largest proposed renewable project. The project is anticipated to reach financial close in October 2023.