FFI, which is funded from the free cash flow of mining giant Fortescue Mining Group, will partner with Windlab for an 800 megawatt wind farm and another 1 gigawatt farm near Hughenden. The partners plan to break ground in 2025 and have the projects complete by 2027.
The company has already announced plans to develop a large-scale electrolyser manufacturing project at Gladstone in Queensland,
The ‘super hub' may eventually be able to generate 10 gigawatts of power via wind and solar, which will then be used to develop green hydrogen, FFI's favoured new fuel, made from splitting water into its two components via renewable energy powered electrolysers. It secured government funding of $45 million for this.
"This is about ensuring Queensland and Australia are in the best possible position to play a leading role in the production and supply of green hydrogen globally," FFI CEO Mark Hutchinson said.
It is part of the state's larger clean energy plan.
"What we're talking about today is 10 gigawatts - which is the size of all of the renewable investment currently in New Zealand and it's happening here in North Queensland," premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Monday.
