WA gives green light to first solar project under streamlined approval process – pv magazine Australia

June 17, 2024 David Carroll

Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC), a partnership between Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation and Philippine-listed renewable energy company ACEN Corporation, has received environmental approval for the first of several proposals totaling 3 GW of clean energy from the Western Australian (WA) Government ) green light for a 150 MW solar farm in the Pilbara region.

While no details have been released about the 150MW solar farm, the state government has said it is the first project approved under the Green Energy Approvals Initiative, which was launched last year to accelerate the development of a growing renewable energy and green hydrogen pipeline and production . projects in the state.

WA Environment Minister Reece Whitby said the cross-government initiative aims to drive investment in projects related to solar and wind energy, green hydrogen, lithium mining, processing of critical minerals, as well as the production of renewable energy products such as batteries, electrolysers, solar panels and wind turbines.

“I want Western Australia to become a renewable energy powerhouse, so it’s critical we cut red tape and bring clean energy projects online without unnecessary delays,” he said.

“Yindjibarndi’s proposals are exactly what our government wants to see more of in WA.”

“With the potential to decarbonize our state’s energy systems, create rural jobs for Indigenous Australians and support the uptake of renewable energy by industry in the Pilbara, I look forward to seeing Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation’s proposals come to fruition.”

The 150 MW photovoltaic project is the first of large-scale solar, wind and battery projects that YEC plans to implement in the 13,000-square-kilometer Yindjibarndi country. YEC’s initial plans include a Phase 1 target of 750 MW of combined wind, solar and battery power, with construction expected to begin within the next few years.

YEC is targeting its investments at major industrial energy users in the Pilbara and has already signed a memorandum of understanding with mining giant Rio Tinto that allows both companies to explore wind, solar and battery energy storage systems at the Yindjibarndi site, close to the Rio lines power plant.

The deal is part of Rio’s A$3 billion ($1.98 billion) plan to decarbonize its iron ore operation in the Pilbara, which is currently powered by four gas-fired power plants. It is estimated that approximately 700 MW of renewable capacity will be needed to replace gas supplies.