Global call for EOIs to unlock Oakajee’s renewable hydrogen potential
- Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area identified for its world-class wind and solar energy potential to produce renewable hydrogen
- Expressions of interest sought from overseas and national proponents to develop renewable hydrogen projects within the precinct north of Geraldton
- Follows McGowan Government’s $22 million boost for the WA hydrogen industry
A globally competitive renewable hydrogen precinct could soon become a reality in Western Australia’s Mid-West, as expressions of interest open for the greenfields Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area (SIA) near Geraldton.
The McGowan Government is casting the net worldwide for EOIs from commercial groups looking to produce or use renewable hydrogen, and WA will use its international offices to promote the opportunity globally.
Located 23 kilometres north of Geraldton, Oakajee SIA is recognised for its world-class wind and solar energy potential, which is ideal for the production of renewable hydrogen for commercial uses including advanced manufacturing, energy storage and transport, and for future export of clean energy.
Initial assessments indicate the 4,070 hectare Oakajee SIA buffer area could generate up to 270 megawatts of wind power and 1,250 megawatts of solar renewable energy at internationally competitive prices.
This supply could be supplemented at large scale with abundant land throughout the Mid-West region suitable for wind and solar power generation.
Oakajee SIA is connected to the State’s major road network and existing Geraldton Port via the North West Coastal Highway, and there are provisions in place for the area to be linked to the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline.
The EOI will be targeted at international and Australian commercial groups including industrial proponents wanting to produce commercial quantities of hydrogen; hydrogen users such as transport, metals refining and ammonia-manufacturing companies; hydrogen industry component manufacturers; and power and other infrastructure providers.
The EOI process follows the WA Recovery Plan initiatives to bring forward the Western Australian Renewable Hydrogen Strategy goals from 2040 to 2030, and the McGowan Government’s $22 million investment in developing WA’s hydrogen industry.
Comments attributed to Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“Interest in renewable hydrogen is rapidly accelerating, and the State Government is putting in place the framework to make WA a world leader across the hydrogen supply chain.
“Renewable hydrogen has the potential to be a major economic driver for the State, and the Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area could truly transform the Mid-West region.
“The State Government is keen to work collaboratively with industry through the EOI process, and understand exactly what it will take to transform the area into a globally competitive producer and user of renewable hydrogen.”
A significant opportunity within Western Australia’s unique renewable hydrogen landscape is the Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area (Oakajee SIA) located 435km north of Western Australia’s capital city, Perth.
The Western Australian Government intends to transform this greenfields site into a globally competitive, multi-product renewable hydrogen industrial precinct.
The area has already received attention from forward thinking organisations that see the potential this region provides.
The government is calling for Expressions of Interest from organisations across the world to identify the infrastructure requirements, operational frameworks and interested parties to activate Oakajee as a premium location to establish a hydrogen project.
The Expression of Interest guidelines and submission form is available on the Oakajee Renewable Hydrogen EOI page.
Submissions close on December 24, 2020.
Other relevant links:
Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation’s website
The Oakajee SIA webpage (on the DevelopmentWA website), which includes several research reports