FFI, Windlab plan 10-GW renewables hub to produce green H2 in Queensland

Australia’s Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) and Windlab Pty Ltd have joined forces to create a renewable energy “super hub” in Queensland that will accommodate more than 10 GW of wind and solar power capacity to enable the industrial-scale production of green hydrogen.

The ambitious project, dubbed North Queensland Super Hub, was presented by the state government on Monday, alongside wind farm operator and project developer Windlab Pty Ltd, a portfolio company of Asia-Pacific investor Federation Asset Management, and the green energy business of iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG).

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The first phase of the scheme is already in details planning and will include the 800-MW Prairie wind farm development and the 1-GW Wongalee project, details about which were not disclosed. The partners said that land agreements have been secured for the Prairie wind park and an application for development approval is due to be filed in the next few months. The specific project was developed by Windlab and includes the construction of a 100-turbine plant around 300 kilometres (186.4 miles) south-west of Townsville, Queensland.

FFI and Windlab intend to kick off construction of the first stage in 2025 and start power generation by 2027. The output of the plants will be used to produce green hydrogen and will be fed into the grid.

“Australia’s natural resources, including its wind, sun and landmass, are unrivalled in terms of their potential for the production of green energy – green hydrogen in particular – and that is no truer than in the sunshine state,” said FFI’s CEO Mark Hutchinson.