Renewable energy company Climate Capital plans to develop a 9.95 MW solar farm in northern Tasmania to support green hydrogen production facilities. Queensland-based ReNu Energy has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) for all the output from this solar farm, which will be built at Wesley Vale.
The solar farm will be next to a planned green hydrogen production, storage, and refueling station developed by ReNu subsidiary Countrywide Hydrogen. This project aims to create a hydrogen transport ecosystem for Tasmania’s heavy transport and industrial sectors.
The solar farm is expected to supply 5 MW of power directly to the Wesley Vale site, while the remaining 4.95 MW will go to another green hydrogen hub planned for Brighton, near Hobart. Both facilities will feature a 5 MW electrolyzer and a hydrogen refueling station capable of supplying up to 690,000 kg of green hydrogen annually.
ReNu Energy estimates that the solar farm will cover more than 20% of the power requirements for these facilities, with the rest being sourced from the grid. ReNu Chairman Boyd White stated that this agreement is a major step forward in their hydrogen initiative, providing a long-term green power price hedge.
Climate Capital enthusiastically supported Countrywide’s hydrogen goals and started developing solar farms. This will be Climate Capital’s second solar project in Tasmania, following the launch of the state’s first operational utility-scale solar facility, the 4.95 MW Bell Bay Solar Farm.
