The development of the Western Green Energy Hub in Australia’s Goldfields-Esperance region has taken a significant step forward with a partnership with the Korean power giant, KEPCO. Spanning over 15,000 square kilometres of Mirning Country, this ambitious project aims to become one of the world’s largest green energy hubs.
The Western Green Energy Hub is anticipated to generate approximately 50GW of electricity through a combination of solar and wind power. Moreover, it aims to produce 3.5 million tonnes of zero-carbon green hydrogen annually, catering to both domestic and international markets, including South Korea.
The project’s shareholders, InterContinental Energy, CWP Global, and Mirning Traditional Lands Aboriginal Corporation, have signed a memorandum of understanding with KEPCO, solidifying the Korean utility’s interest in participating in the venture.
WGEH’s CEO, Ray Macdonald, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasising the joint goal of project development and establishing long-term supply partnerships with South Korea and other international markets. This partnership brings the Western Green Energy Hub closer to becoming a reality, delivering significant renewable energy generation and green hydrogen production on a massive scale.
“This new partnership is recognition of the work we have done to date and, perhaps more importantly, it recognises the opportunities that lie ahead,” he said.
“This includes the present update of the Australian Government national hydrogen strategy and the opportunity for priority promotion of regional development, Indigenous participation, and a new green export industry for Australia.”
KEPCO’s vice president and head of new and global business development department Chan Hyuk Chun said the MOU enabled the utility to bring its knowledge and experience to the project, noting it was “ideally located in an area of impressive wind and solar resources”.
Hydrogen Industry Minister Bill Johnston said the project would put WA at the forefront of producing green hydrogen.
