“Land Down Under” Mining The Sun And Wind

Country Overview

The Commonwealth of Australia, also known as the “Land Down Under” is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Southern Ocean, Indian Ocean, Timor Sea, Tasman Sea, and Coral Sea. The population of Australia is approximately 24.44 million people.

In 2022, Australia’s economy was ranked 12^th in the world in gross domestic product (GDP). The country’s economy is dependent on the export of iron ore, coal, liquified natural gas, gold, wheat, raw nickel, wool, and zinc ore.

Environmental Policies

In 2009, the Australian government established a renewable energy goal of generating 20% of the country’s electricity from renewable energy by 2020.

In 2016, Australia signed the Paris Climate Agreement and committed to a 26% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, based on 2005 levels.

Power Generation Capabilities

In 2021, 100% of the people in Australia had access to electricity. In 2022, utilities used coal (47.3%), renewable energy (32.3%), natural gas (18.7%), and oil (1.7%) to generate electricity in Australia. Solar and wind are the dominant types of renewable energy used to generate electricity in Australia.

Recent renewable energy projects in Australia include:

• 3,600 MW Solar + Energy Storage Project – Danish company, European Energy is continuing work on the Pacific Solar Hydrogen Project in the state of Queensland. The project will generate over 200,000 tons of green ammonia per annum for export. The project is forecast to be commissioned in 2026.
• 2,000 MW Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project – Australian company, Evolution Mining is continuing work on the Mt Rawdon Pumped Hydro Project in the state of Queensland. The project is forecast to be commissioned in 2025.
• 1,450 MW Energy Storage Project – State-owned utility, Stanwell is continuing work on a battery storage system in the eastern region of the state of Queensland. The project is forecast to be commissioned in 2024.
• 1,130 MW Onshore Wind Project – Australian wind energy company, Westwind Energy is continuing work on the Golden Plains Wind project in the state of Victoria. The project is forecast to be commissioned in 2025.
• 800 MW Onshore Wind + 400 MW Solar Project – Australian company, Squadron Energy is continuing work on a hybrid wind plus solar project in the state of Queensland. The project is forecast to be commissioned in 2025.
• 550 MW Solar Project + 400 MW Energy Storage Project – Australian renewable energy company, Maoneng is continuing work on the Merriwa Energy Hub, a solar plus energy storage project in state of New South Wales. The project is forecast to be commissioned in 2025.
• 923 MW Onshore Wind Project – Spanish multinational company, Acciona is continuing work on the MacIntyre Wind project in the state of Queensland. The project is scheduled to be commissioned in 2024.
• 909 MW Energy Storage – American energy storage company, Powin is continuing work on Waratah Super Battery Project in the state of New South Wales. The battery energy storage system (BESS) is forecast to be commissioned in 2025.
• 840 MW Solar Project – British energy company, BP is continuing work on the Sandy Creek Solar project in the state of New South Wales. The project is forecast to be commissioned in 2026.
• 720 MW Solar Project – Philippine company, AC Energy is continuing work on the New England Solar project in state of New South Wales. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2024.
• 520 MW Solar + 296 Energy Storage Project – British energy company, BP is continuing work on the Goulburn River agrivoltaic plus energy storage project in the state of New South Wales. The project is forecast to be commissioned in 2024.
• 400 MW Solar + 200 MW Energy Storage Project – Australian renewable energy company UPC/AC Renewables is continuing work on the Stubbo solar plus energy storage project in the state of New South Wales. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
• 400 MW Solar Project – Neoen is continuing work on the Western Downs Green Power Hub project in the state of The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
• 400 MW Solar Project – British energy company, BP is continuing work on the Wellington North solar project in the state of New South Wales. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
• 250 MW Energy Storage Project – Neoen is continuing work on the Big Canberra Battery project in the nation’s capital, Canberra. The project is forecast to be commissioned in 2025.
• 235 MW Solar + 7.9 MW Energy Storage – Germany renewable energy company, Wircon is continuing work on the Maryvale Solar and Energy Storage project in the state of New South Wales. The project is forecast to be commissioned in 2025.
• 204 Solar Project – In October 2023, Japanese companies Eneos and Sojitz commissioned the Edenvale Solar Park project in the state of Queensland.
• 109 MW Onshore Wind – In June 2023, Spanish company Naturgy commissioned the Berrybank 2 wind project in the state of Victoria.

Conclusions

Australia has been mining and exporting mineral resources like coal, iron ore, and gold for over one hundred years. Coal mining began in Australia in 1799. Coal was first exported from Australia in 1801 to India.

Export of mineral resources has been the cornerstone of Australia’s economy. In 2021, Australia exported U.S. $118 Billion in iron ore, U.S. $54.3 Billion in coal, U.S. $39.2 Billion in liquified natural gas, U.S. $17.6 Billion in gold, and U.S. $2 Billion in zinc ore.

Australia has vast renewable energy resource potential, including onshore wind, offshore wind, solar, and biomass. Companies are now developing the nation’s significant renewable energy resources for domestic power and green energy, like hydrogen for export. The “Land Down Under” is now mining the sun and wind energy.

Jack Kerfoot

Website – “Our Energy Conundrum”

www.jackkerfoot.com

 Jack Kerfoot is a scientist, energy expert, and author of the book FUELING AMERICA, An Insider’s Journey and articles for The Hill, one of the largest independent political news sites in the United States. He has been interviewed on over 100 radio, podcast, and television stations from New York City to Los Angeles on a diverse range of energy issues.