The Western Australian government has awarded environmental approval to an up to 150-MW solar project, the first of a broader plan to add 3-GW of wind, solar and battery storage capacity in the Aussie state.
The scheme in the Pilbara region of Western Australia was proposed by Philippine group Ayala’s ACEN Corp (PSE:ACEN) and Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC), representing traditional owners in Yindjibarndi. It was cleared under the government’s Green Energy Approvals Initiative, according to a statement on Saturday.
The photovoltaic (PV) park will be built as part of YAC’s goal of having a combined 750 MW of wind, solar and battery storage under construction within the next few years. Yindjibarndi people teamed up for the GW-scale project with ACEN in July last year. Several months later, Rio Tinto agreed with YEC to jointly explore renewable energy opportunities, initially studying the possibility of a solar facility to provide energy to the mining giant.
YAC and ACEN in April registered a land use deal with the National Native Title Tribunal for 750 MW of solar and energy storage capacity under the GW-scale initiative, saying they expect a final investment decision on this section to be taken in late 2024.
“Yindjibarndi’s proposals are exactly what our Government wants to see more of in Western Australia,” said Environment and Climate Action Minister Reece Whitby.
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