Priority corridors revealed for Pilbara common-use energy projects
The State Government has identified four priority corridors for the development of new common use energy transmission infrastructure in the Pilbara.
The identified priority corridors are:
- Burrup (Murujuga) - Linking the Maitland Strategic Industrial Area (SIA), with Karratha and the Burrup SIA.
- Chichester - Connecting the Maitland SIA with the high-quality wind zone around 50km to 100km further south, proximate to the Chichester Range.
- Hamersley Range - A transmission solution that will connect the Boodarie
SIA and Port Hedland with the eastern edge of the Hamersley Range,
home to the state’s iron ore mining industry. - Great Sandy Desert - A transmission line that connects the Boodarie SIA
and Port Hedland with proposed renewable generation projects further
east near the Great Sandy Desert.
Announcing the corridors at a Pilbara Roundtable consultation session this month, the Government launched an expression of interest process, inviting submissions from eligible proponents to be considered for priority status.
Designated Priority Projects will receive a State Government endorsement
for consideration by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation for concessional financing, with up to $3 billion available from WA’s allocation under the
Australian Government's Rewiring the Nation program.
To be considered for Priority Project status, projects must align with State Government objectives, including decarbonising the Pilbara, delivering positive
outcomes for Traditional Owners and local communities, supporting common-use infrastructure, and ensuring timely delivery.
Proponents must demonstrate best practice engagement with impacted Traditional Owner groups and include meaningful benefit-sharing options.
Priority projects will help accelerate the decarbonisation of the Pilbara region.
The corridors are part of the State Government’s Pilbara Energy Transition plan, which it says will accelerate the achievement of a rapid, orderly and equitable
transition to green energy in the Pilbara.
The plan will accelerate decarbonisation by facilitating more common use transmission infrastructure and unlocking the best renewable resources in the region.
Transmission infrastructure is critical for connecting renewable energy to where the demand for electricity is.
New common use infrastructure in the Pilbara will reduce environmental impact by preventing unnecessary infrastructure duplication.
It will also enable access to diverse renewable energy sources, support energy security and reliability and reduce the impact of industry on the environment.
Applications close on Friday, October 25, 2024. More information is available here.