Energy consortium to build world’s biggest renewable energy hub

The project has an estimated cost of $100b.

An international consortium—composed of InterContinental Energy, CWP Global, and Mirning Green Energy Limited—is building an integrated green fuels mega project in the South-East of Western Australia. 

Set to be the world's biggest renewable energy hub, the Western Green Energy Hub (WGEH) could produce up to 50 gigawatts (GW) of hybrid wind and solar power over 15,000 square kilometres in South-East Western Australia, across the Shires of Dundas and the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

According to a press release, the 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 location of the renewable energy hub provides an optimal diurnal profile for renewable energy, with consistently high levels of wind and solar energy over a 24-hour period.

The project will deliver significant socio-economic benefits to the local community, and provide a huge boost to the Western Australia State Government’s Renewable Hydrogen Strategy and the Commonwealth Government of Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy. Green fuels produced at the site will 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. 

According to Brendan Hammond, chairman of the board of WGEH, the planned project would be 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. It is an honour and a privilege to be involved in this groundbreaking project.” said Hammond.