“It Looked Like a City of Mirrors” — Australia’s Mega-Project to Harvest Sun and Wind
Published · 3 min read
In Western Australia, the Western Green Energy Hub (WGEH) plans a vast field of solar panels and wind turbines. The project would cover about 22,000 to 22,700 km², making it one of the world’s largest clean energy sites.
Developers target about 70 gigawatts (GW) of combined solar and wind capacity, with an output above 200 terawatt-hours (TWh) each year. The hub also aims to make about 3.5 million tonnes of green hydrogen and convert much of it into green ammonia for export.
Fast Facts
| Item | Planned Scale | Notes |
| Project area | ~22,000–22,700 km² | Great Australian Bight region, Western Australia. |
| Capacity | ~70 GW (wind + solar) | Among the largest planned anywhere. |
| Hardware | ~20 million panels, ~3,000 turbines | Scale indicative of build-out. |
| Annual output | >200 TWh (target) | Comparable to Australia’s recent electricity production. |
| Green hydrogen | ~3.5 Mt per year | Much converted to green ammonia for export. |
| Developers | InterContinental Energy, CWP Global, partners | Consortium model with local stakeholders. |
How the Hub Works
The site will use strong sun and steady wind to feed large power blocks. That electricity will run electrolyzers that split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen can be used at home, but most will likely ship overseas as ammonia because it is easier to store and move.
- Electrolysis uses clean power, so the hydrogen is “green.”
- Ammonia combines hydrogen with nitrogen and travels well by ship.
- Target markets include Asia, with interest from Singapore.
Moving Power Across the Sea
Australia is studying long undersea cables to move clean power to Asia. The best known plan is SunCable, an HVDC link of roughly 4,300–4,500 km from Darwin to Singapore through Indonesia. Singapore has given the concept conditional support. These steps point to a path for exporting firm renewable power.
Context: Australia’s Grid Is Changing Fast
The grid operator, AEMO, says the shift from coal to clean energy is not only possible but likely. Its CEO, Daniel Westerman, notes old coal plants are breaking down and are being replaced with the least-cost energy: renewables backed by storage and new transmission. He expects most coal generation to be gone by the mid-2030s.
Renewables already supply a growing share of electricity, while total generation was about 280–284 TWh in 2023–24. That makes WGEH’s target output easier to compare with national demand.
Challenges on the Ground
The region is hot and remote. Sand, heat, and distance raise costs and test equipment life. The project needs strong roads, ports, and grid links. It also needs water for electrolysis and careful planning with local communities. Still, Australia has a track record of building large energy and mining projects in remote areas.
What Success Could Deliver
- Lower emissions: Clean power and fuels for home use and export.
- Energy trade: New export lines similar to LNG, but with green molecules or electrons.
- Jobs and skills: Construction, operations, ports, and HVDC expertise.
- Grid learning: Storage and transmission scaled up for reliability.
Bottom Line
The Western Green Energy Hub is bold. It plans massive solar and wind, plus green fuels, on a scale the world rarely sees. Australia’s market rules, strong sun, and steady wind give it a real shot. If the build proceeds and export links mature, this “city of mirrors” could light homes at home and abroad—while cutting carbon at the same time.
