World’s Biggest Green Energy Hub Proposed for Western Australia

An international consortium is planning to build what would be the world’s biggest renewable energy hub in Australia, covering an area half the size of Belgium, to convert wind and solar power into green fuels like hydrogen.

The consortium, which comprises of InterContinental Energy, CWP Global and Mirning Green Energy Limited, aims to build Western Green Energy Hub (WGEH), an integrated green fuels mega project, in the South-East of Western Australia.

When fully operational, WGEH is expected to produce up to 50 gigawatts of hybrid wind and solar power over 15,000-square-kilometres in across the Shires of Dundas and the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. The region provides an optimal diurnal profile for renewable energy, with consistently high levels of wind and solar energy over a 24-hour period.

WGEH will be built in phases to produce up to 3.5 million tons of zero-carbon green hydrogen or 20 million tons of green ammonia each year, which will be provided domestically and exported internationally as the green fuels market continues to expand post- 2030.

The project aims to deliver significant socio-economic benefits to the local community, as well as provide a huge boost to the Western Australia State Government’s Renewable Hydrogen Strategy and the Commonwealth Government of Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy.

The green hydrogen sector is predicted to become a US$2.5 trillion market by 2050. Green fuels produced at the WGEH site are expected to meet massive future demand from multiple sectors, including in co-firing in power generation, the shipping sector, heavy industry such as steel, chemicals and mining, as well as the aviation sector.

In addition, WGEH is meant to define a new model for natural resource and energy companies to partner with First Nations Land Owners. According to InterContinental Energy, this is because Mirning Green Energy Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Mirning Traditional Lands Aboriginal Corporation, will have a meaningful carried equity stake in the Project, together with a permanent seat on the WGEH Consortium Board. WGEH will be developed with complete respect for the Mirning community and its heritage in the area, with specific corporate governance requirements in this regard built into the WGEH Corporate Charter, says the company.

Brendan Hammond, Chairman of the Board of WGEH said: “The Western Green Energy Hub is historic on two fronts. First, the scale at which we will be able to deliver green fuels to markets and customers around the world, helping to move us all towards a net-zero future. Second, and possibly more importantly, the way in which we are working with the Mirning People, the original owners of the land, to create a truly long-term and sustainable multi-generational partnership that delivers enormous socio-economic benefits for the community.”

Trevor Naley, the inaugural Mirning Board Member of WGEH and the Chairman of the Mirning Traditional Lands Aboriginal Corporation said: “As First Nations Land Owners, the Mirning People are excited to hold such an integral and defining stake in this historical partnership with WGEH,” adding, “These commitments will encourage our young indigenous people to dream big, knowing that these ambitions can be realised. Pride in oneself, in culture and community will end the welfare cycle which has plagued many indigenous families.”