East Kimberley Clean Energy Project
East Kimberley Clean Energy Project
The project proponents are seeking to develop a large-scale renewables-based hydrogen and ammonia production project utilising existing infrastructure in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia.
| Main proponents:
Aboriginal Clean Energy Partnership (Balanggarra Ventures Limited, MG Corporation, Kimberley Land Council, Pollination) |
Main end-use classification:
Industrial process – ammonia production, export focus |
Status:
Under development |
Estimated cost:
~ AUD$3 billion (Project capex)
|
| Other involvement:
|
Production details:
~50,000 tonnes per annum of renewables-based hydrogen targeted |
Location:
Western Australia, Australia |
Announced funding:
Australian Renewable Energy Agency – AUD$1.67 million (contribution to Stage 1 – feasibility study)
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Project description
The East Kimberley Clean Energy Project would involve a solar farm development on approximately 2,500 hectares of land owned by MG Corporation near Kununurra, a town in far northern Western Australia located at the eastern edge of the Kimberley region.
The solar energy produced (approximately 1 GW) would be combined with 20-30 MW of hydroelectric energy from the existing Ord Hydro Power Plant at Lake Argyle (approximately 70 kilometres south of Kununurra) to power electrolytic hydrogen production facilities co-located with the solar farm development. Hydrogen production is targeted at approximately 50,000 tonnes per annum. Fresh water for the electrolysis process would be sourced from Lake Kununurra, and thereby no desalination is required.
The produced (renewables-based) hydrogen would be transported approximately 120 kilometres by buried pipeline to Balanggarra Country in Wyndham on the North-Western Australian coast, where it would be used in the manufacture of approximately 250,000 tonnes per annum of (renewables-based) ammonia.
The produced ammonia would be used in the local irrigated agriculture and mining industries, as well as exported to nearby Asian markets.
The project proponents have indicated the project would utilise existing infrastructure in the region including electricity transmission lines, roads, airport, and the Port of Wyndham.
In December 2023, the Australian Renewable Agency (ARENA) announced an award of AUD$1.67 million to support Stage 1 of a feasibility study for the development of a large-scale renewable hydrogen and ammonia production facility in East Kimberley, Western Australia.
Stage 1 was completed in 2024 and progressed project design with specific focus on the solar PV, power/ process engineering and environmental/ approvals workstreams of the project. Stage 2 of the feasibility study is progressing in 2025. The project proponents are targeting a final investment decision in 2026 with post-commissioning hydrogen production operations scheduled for 2029.
Reviewed (reviewed by a project proponent): December 2024