Australia rejects major renewables & hydrogen project

“We expect that the Commonwealth will work in partnership with the Asian Renewable Energy Hub to provide the necessary guidance to appropriately assess and address any environmental impacts under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act,” Clean Energy Council said.

June 21, 2021 Stu Turley Fossil, International News, Renewables

The Australian federal government has rejected plans for a renewable energy and hydrogen project in Western Australia. The decision was published on the environment ministry’s website on June 15.

The proposed Asian Renewable Energy Hub encompasses 6,500 km2 of land in the East Pilbara region of Western Australia. It will generate 26 GW of renewable energy, the bulk of which will be used for the production of green hydrogen for domestic and export markets, according to the website of InterContinental Energy, which is developing the project.

The environment minister cited the expansion plan in the rejection decision. The original plan was granted major project status by the federal government last year, and the WA government has approved the first stage of the development.

The ministry in its note said that the project will have a “clearly unacceptable” impact on migratory species and internationally recognized wetlands under Part 3 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

Australia’s Clean Energy Council in a June 21 statement said it is seeking urgent clarification from the federal minister for the environment to address the perception that this decision is inconsistent with well-established processes or with the treatment of non-renewable projects.

“We expect that the Commonwealth will work in partnership with the Asian Renewable Energy Hub to provide the necessary guidance to appropriately assess and address any environmental impacts under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act,” Clean Energy Council said.

Meanwhile, Australia’s peak oil and gas industry body Appea in a separate statement said that it had joined several of the country’s leading resources sector bodies in a call supporting vital reforms to the EPBC Act.

Appea, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy, the Queensland Resources Council, NSW Minerals Council, South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy, and Minerals Council of Australia released a joint statement urging the parliament to pass “pragmatic, targeted and reasonable” amendments to the EPBC Act that would streamline regulation, protect the environment, and support resources jobs and regional communities.

About Stu Turley 3356 Articles
Stuart Turley is President and CEO of Sandstone Group, a top energy data, and finance consultancy working with companies all throughout the energy value chain. Sandstone helps both small and large-cap energy companies to develop customized applications and manage data workflows/integration throughout the entire business. With experience implementing enterprise networks, supercomputers, and cellular tower solutions, Sandstone has become a trusted source and advisor.   He is also the Executive Publisher of www.energynewsbeat.com, the best source for 24/7 energy news coverage, and is the Co-Host of the energy news video and Podcast Energy News Beat. Energy should be used to elevate humanity out of poverty. Let's use all forms of energy with the least impact on the environment while being sustainable without printing money. Stu is also a co-host on the 3 Podcasters Walk into A Bar podcast with David Blackmon, and Rey Trevino. Stuart is guided by over 30 years of business management experience, having successfully built and help sell multiple small and medium businesses while consulting for numerous Fortune 500 companies. He holds a B.A in Business Administration from Oklahoma State and an MBA from Oklahoma City University.

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