A proposed huge wind and solar energy project in Western Australia’s East Pilbara region looks like it has cleared another hurdle, subject to conditions.
The Asian Renewable Energy Hub (AREH) will feature (at this stage – the numbers have changed a few times) up to 1,743 wind turbines and a 2,000 megawatt solar farm. That’s a lot of solar panels – based on 400 watts each, it would work out to around 5 million modules. But given the project isn’t slated to start construction until 2026 if it is to go ahead, individual solar panel capacity could be significantly more by then.
Among other aspects of the project are 14km of transmission lines to the coast, four high voltage direct current (HVDC) cables offshore and up to 1,514 km of site access tracks. There will also be temporary construction compounds, including accommodation. Around 3,000 workers will be needed during the 10 year construction period, and approximately 400 for ongoing positions once construction is done and dusted.
It’s just a massive project by any benchmark – the development envelope is 662,400 ha.
There are various permissions and approvals the project needs to proceed, including the blessing of Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). The EPA’s environmental impact assessment of the Asian Renewable Energy Hub was released yesterday.
One of the thorny issues associated with the development is the area that will need to be cleared of native vegetation – up from 7,370 ha to 11,962 ha. While vegetation is reasonably sparse in the region, that makes it all the more valuable. This isn’t just with regard to the vegetation itself, but for the animals that depend on it. For example, the 11,962 ha includes 11,147 ha of “bilby preferred shrub and spinifex on sandplain habitat”.
But given the habits of the bilby, the EPA says 98 per cent of the development envelope following construction will contain suitable habitat for both bilby burrow construction and will support plant species known to be important in its diet.
The bilby is only one of a number of animals the EPA has taken into consideration and the Authority has recommended conditions requiring actions to be carried out to mitigate related risks, all of which can be viewed in this document along with the EPA’s reasoning. These also include recommendations/conditions concerning the off-shore aspect of the project.
The WA EPA’s report is subject to an appeals period that ends on the 18th of this month and the final decision on the proposed project will be made by Western Australia’s Environment Minister.
Exporting Electricity Overseas
The AREH web site states up to 3,000 MW of the project’s generation capacity will be dedicated to large energy users in the Pilbara region. But the bulk of the power will enable large scale production of hydrogen products for domestic and export markets. However, AREH will also export electricity overseas. This document from 2018 notes:
“The Proposal will supply large energy users in the Pilbara, export power via HDVC cable to South-East Asia, and produce green hydrogen for domestic and export customers.”
Another even bigger solar project in Australia involving overseas electricity exports via HVDC is the massive Sun Cable venture.
Assuming the AREH project can secure the approvals it needs, a financial decision as to its future is expected to be made in 2025.
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