Queensland-based independent power producer ReNu Energy has announced that it has entered into a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) for 100% of production from a 9.95 MW solar farm to be built by Climate Capital at Wesley Vale in northern Tasmania.

The bespoke solar farm is to be built adjacent to a planned green hydrogen production, storage and refuelling station being built in Wesley Vale by ReNu subsidiary Countrywide Hydrogen.

Countrywide plans to create a “comprehensive hydrogen transportation ecosystem” in Tasmania that will serve the heavy haulage sector as well as potential industrial applications.

The solar farm is expected to provide 5MW of behind-the-meter electricity to the Wesley Vale facility, with the remaining 4.95MW exported to another green hydrogen hub planned at Brighton near Hobart in southern Tasmania.

Each facility will consist of a 5 MW electrolyser and a hydrogen refuelling station with two 350 bar dispensers that will be able to supply up to 690,000 kg of green hydrogen per year.

ReNu said the energy from the Climate Capital solar farm will be able to provide more than 20% of its estimated energy needs. The rest of the energy will come from the grid.

ReNu CEO Boyd White said the long-term sales agreement with Climate Capital is a significant step forward for the company’s hydrogen initiative and will provide long-term security for energy and electricity prices.

“The ability to purchase competitively priced off-the-meter electricity and connect to the Tasmanian electricity grid is another important step in developing our hydrogen ecosystem in Tasmania at a competitively priced hydrogen,” he said.

Climate Capital has expressed its willingness to support Countrywide’s hydrogen ambitions and looks forward to beginning construction of the bespoke solar farm.

The Wesley Vale project is Climate Capital’s second solar farm project in Tasmania, having earlier this year unveiled the state’s first operational utility-scale solar power plant with the 4.95MW Bell Bay Solar Farm.

Popular content