Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) and Windlab Pty Ltd in Australia have teamed forces to build a renewable energy “super hub” in Queensland with more than 10 GW of wind and solar power capacity to enable industrial-scale green hydrogen manufacturing. The state government unveiled the ambitious project, known as the North Queensland Super Hub, alongside the green energy division of iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. and Windlab Pty Ltd, a portfolio firm of Asia-Pacific investor Federation Asset Management.
The 800-MW Prairie wind farm construction and the unidentified 1-GW Wongalee project are both part of the scheme’s first phase, which is already in the planning stages. The partners stated that the Prairie wind park has land agreements in place, and that an application for development approval is about to be submitted. The specific project, which was created by Windlab, entails building a 100-turbine factory about 300 km (186.4 miles) southwest of Townsville, Queensland. FFI and Windlab plan to begin the first stage’s construction in 2025 and start power production by 2027. The output of the plants will be fed into the grid and used to produce green hydrogen.
In October 2022, Fortescue Future Industries and Tree Energy Solutions collaborated to build a green hydrogen integrated project to help Europe address its present energy and climate crises. Fortescue would provide $29.7 million in equity to TES to become a strategic shareholder there. Additionally, it would contribute $99.16 million to acquire a substantial part in the development of the TES import facility in Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
