Place

Denham

Investment

$8.9 million

Key Dates :

Construction starts Aug 2021. Commissioning early 2022.

Benefits :

Preserve our pristine regions by exploring renewable energy.

Project overview

Traditionally, remote communities are powered by diesel-generated microgrids. With this project, we’re testing if renewable hydrogen energy can be used to produce baseload power. The power supply for the hydrogen demonstration plant will come from a dedicated solar farm, with the plant expected to generate 526MWh per year, enough power for up to 100 homes.

We’ve secured $5.7m funding from the WA State Government and $2.6m from ARENA to build the plant in Denham, but this project will benefit all regional communities as we research and test the most effective way to move towards 100% renewable energy systems.

Find out more about the project in our fact sheets or send us an email.

FACT SHEET & FAQ
ARENA PROJECT PAGE

    What's happening now

    Testing underway

    Our new Denham solar farm has been energised and connected to the network to initiate testing.

    The team is working towards operational readiness for December this year.

    What's happening now

    Denham wind farm

    The Denham wind farm has been temporarily turned off while we upgrade the power station and systems.

    Learn more

    What's happening now

    A game-changer

    Want to know more about how this project fits into Australia’s hydrogen development landscape?

    You can read all about it in Energy Magazine’s article Australia’s first green hydrogen plant in a remote power system

    What's happening now

    Time in the sun

    Hybrid Systems Australia has finished installing the Denham solar farm solar panels! More than 3,000 panels were installed in a few short weeks, with each panel weighing in at 30kg.

    Cabling and connection are underway, and we expect the solar farm to be commissioned by December.

    What's happening now

    One step closer

    The Denham solar farm works are coming along very nicely.

    In late June, our contractor Hybrid Systems Australia installed the solar array structures, ready to support more than 3,000 solar PV panels when the job is completed.

    Another step closer to hydrogen for Denham.

    What's happening now

    Breaking ground

    We hit another exciting milestone on this project in mid-June, with our contractors knocking in the first of 570 piles at our solar farm site.

    Our 1,344 kW array will be mounted on these poles over the coming weeks in preparation for powering our hydrogen demonstration plant and contributing to Denham’s grid later in the year.

    What's happening now

    Changeover complete

    On 3 June, we successfully completed the changeover to Denham’s temporary power station without causing any interruption to the town’s power supply.

    This temporary power station will power Denham for the next three months while we de-energise and upgrade the main power station.

    Reaching this important milestone will allow us to replace aged and unreliable equipment, like the switchboard, fuel system, transformer and control system, and moves us another step closer to hydrogen plant construction.

    What's happening now

    And we're off!

    Minister MacTiernan turned the first sod at our Denham solar farm site in early May, officially kicking off works for this exciting project.

    Power station upgrades have also begun, with construction of the hydrogen plant due to commence later in 2021.

    Read more

    What's happening now

    Community session

    Thanks to everyone who attended our community engagement session on Thursday, 25 March at the Shark Bay Bowling Sport and Recreation Club.

    We were delighted to share the details about this exciting project with you and listen to your comments and concerns.

    Check out our fact sheets for all the guff, or send us your questions.

    What's happening now

    Contract awarded

    We’ve awarded the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to Hybrid Systems Australia.

    Read more

    What's happening now

    National support

    This exciting project has been made possible thanks to funding received from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA) Advancing Renewables Program and the WA Government’s Renewable Hydrogen Fund.

    Read more

    What does this mean for my community?

    Creating Zero-Hydrocarbon Towns
    An important step in offsetting diesel consumption and reducing local carbon emissions.
    Pilot Location for Renewable Tech
    Leveraging local suppliers as Denham becomes a hub for innovative renewables.
    Disclaimer : The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government or the Government of Western Australia nor do the Australian Government or the Government of Western Australia expressly or impliedly endorse any views or information contained herein, and the Australian Government and the Government of Western Australia do not accept responsibility for any information or advice contained herein.