Canada headquartered clean energy developer and investor Amp Energy has acquired a portfolio of large scale solar PV projects with an aggregate capacity of 1.3 GW with total battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity of up to 540 MW in Australia from Energy Projects Solar (EPS) to form what it calls the Renewable Energy Hub of South Australia (REHSA).
The portfolio of 1.3 GW capacity comprises a 636 MW solar project in Robertstown, 336 MW in Bungama and 388 MW in Yoorndoo Ilga along with up to 540 MW BESS capacity (see South Australia: 500 MW Solar+Storage Project Approved).
Both Robertstown and Bungama projects will begin staged energization in late 2022, the company cleared, and generate enough clean energy equivalent to powering 230,000 homes annually. Amp Energy will work on these projects through its Australian operating company, Amp Power Australia Pty Limited.
Worth AUD 2 billion ($1.55 billion), REHSA will comprise solar PV, wind and BESS assets in the state and will also site Spencer Gulf Hydrogen Energy Ecoplex. Amp Energy said 2 of the sites offer additional strategic value with the planned development of an integrated hydrogen production facility, which will then be used for both the domestic market, and for export to Asia.
"South Australia has significant land mass and world-class wind and solar resources, with aspirations of reaching net 100% renewable energy generation by 2030," said South Australian Minister for Trade and Investment, Stephen Patterson. "We have seen over $7 billion invested in projects with another $20 billion in the pipeline. The Renewable Energy Hub of South Australia will be fundamental in integrating our state's renewable energy storage assets and building our capability and supporting the fast-moving energy transitions we're experiencing."
South Australia is fervently exploring green hydrogen to create an export industry. In March 2021, the state government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Port of Rotterdam Authority in the Netherlands to conduct a feasibility study of exporting green hydrogen made in the state to Europe's largest port, Rotterdam.
In December 2019, Australian Gas Networks broke ground on Hydrogen Park SA in South Australia calling it HyP SA to be powered by renewable energy (see Green Hydrogen Park Enters Construction In Australia).