Plans to build a renewable hydrogen center in the Whyalla region of South Australia, powered by more than a gigawatt of solar and storage, took another step forward this week with the announcement of the first of three solar and huge battery projects.
With the signing of a leasing agreement with the Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation, land for the 388MW Yoorndoo Ilga solar and battery project has been secured, according to Canadian firm Amp Energy.
The Yoorndoo Ilga Solar Farm, which will contain a 150MW battery, is one of three solar and storage projects in South Australia that Amp Energy has purchased as part of a $2 billion plan to build a sustainable hydrogen production hub.
The Renewable Energy Hub of South Australia (REHSA) will be fueled by over 1,300MW of additional solar generation capacity and up to 540MW of large battery capacity, including the 636MW Robertson project and the 336MW Bungama project, all of which were developed by EPS Energy.
The lease agreement for the Yoorndoo Ilga project, according to Amp, was for land that BDAC had recently gained after the SA government recognized the Barngarla People as native title holders of substantial portions of the Upper Spencer Gulf and Eyre Peninsula.
Amp estimated that if the property was obtained and development and other clearances were completed, YIS will produce up to 400 full-time equivalent jobs during construction and provide enough electricity to power 100,000 homes each year.
