Mega-complex boasting 2GW-plus of solar bags green endorsement in Australia

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
image credit: Image credit: Robyn Jay / Flickr

A colossal renewable venture stands one step nearer to development in Australia after clearing a key planning obstacle, setting the scene for construction to start later this decade.

Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has given its go-ahead to the so-called Asian Renewable Energy Hub, a scheme to deploy up to 15GW of solar and wind in the state to then power the mass-scale production of green hydrogen.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The complex – the proposal of a consortium including the Macquarie Group, Intercontinental Energy, Vestas and CWP Energy Asia – would mix 2GW-plus of solar with up to 1,743 wind turbines at a vast site by the coast in the northwestern region of Pilbara, the EPA’s latest documents show.

Having assessed the potential impacts of the 662,400-hectare scheme, the EPA recommended the project be granted environmental approval provided it meets a number of conditions, including creating no-impact buffer zones and burying transmission lines to help preserve local biodiversity.

Even if finally authorised, the construction launch of the Asian Renewable Energy Hub is not expected to start until 2026. In 2018, when the project was described by its promoters as an 11GW venture, total investment needs were pegged at AU$22 billion (US$14 billion).

Another colossus for country hitting 17GW of PV

According to the EPA’s documents, the 2GW solar component will be rolled out in 37 batches, each boasting 55MW across 180-hectare sections. The complex is also proposing to build additions including overhead transmission lines, 37 substations and offshore subsea cables.

The consortium began development work in 2014, going on to secure project land through Western Australia’s Department of Lands. In July 2018, as Macquarie came on board as a sponsor and consortium partner, the project was granted Lead Agency Status by the state government.

The developers plan on earmarking 3GW of the complex’s power supply to the mines of Pilbara region, where miners were already starting to tap into solar. The bulk of the electricity will be, however, set aside for the production of green hydrogen for domestic and foreign use.

The Asian Renewable Energy Hub is one of a raft of mass-scale renewable ventures currently progressing through planning hoops in Australia. Over in the Northern Territory, authorities have endorsed a 10GW solar-plus-storage hybrid meant to export power to Singapore via subsea cables.

In Australia, the rise of ever larger ventures follows a sound year on the PV installation front, with cumulative systems growing nationwide from 11.3GW to 15.9GW last year. As recently noted by regulator AEMO, the country’s grid could take a 75% solar and wind share by 2025 if the appropriate reforms are enacted.

Read Next

June 30, 2025
Australian module manufacturer Tindo Solar has secured a 30MW solar module supply agreement to power Australia's first "net zero pipeline”.
June 26, 2025
PV solar cell manufacturer Halocell Energy has launched its first perovskite-based product called the Halocell Ambient Modules.
June 25, 2025
JinkoSolar has submitted a 133.76MWc solar-plus-storage project in New South Wales to the federal government under the EPBC Act.
June 25, 2025
Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) achieved a new record high for solar PV and wind generation at 12,463MW.
June 25, 2025
The New South Wales government has earmarked AU$2.1 billion (US$1.36 billion) for transmission infrastructure to connect its Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) and support utility-scale renewable and energy storage projects.
June 24, 2025
Western Australia’s Lithium Universe has secured the commercial rights for a solar PV module recycling technology known as Microwave Joule Heating Technology (MJHT).

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
July 2, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico