Perdaman Solar Project Launches in WA Pilbara, Boosting Ngarluma Green Energy Park
A 50-megawatt (MW) solar project is being developed near Karratha, Western Australia, marking the initial phase of a larger 5-gigawatt (GW) energy plan. Perdaman, a Western Australian chemicals conglomerate, will construct and operate this significant facility.
The solar project is intended to connect to the local grid, supplying power to Perdaman’s $4.5 billion Project Ceres urea plant located on the Burrup Peninsula near the Pilbara town. This crucial connection is projected to be operational by the end of 2027, with commercial terms expected to be finalized by the end of this year.
Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation's Energy Park Initiative
This development also represents the first project within a new energy park, which could expand up to 1.2 GW, established by the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation (NAC). The NAC's energy park initiative aims to lease its land in the Pilbara region to green energy developers.
The NAC's energy park initiative streamlines the process with pre-arranged land access, heritage and environmental approvals, planning, and commercial pathways.
The Western Australian government supports this vision, having committed $2.7 million in December for the first hub. This funding will cover surveys, approval processes, and technical activities over the next year. Ngarluma country encompasses coastal areas in the western Pilbara, including Karratha, Roebourne, Wickham, Cape Lambert, and Whim Creek, and is home to major industries.
Belinda Churnside, Ngarluma green energy director, stated that "Ngarluma Green Energy Parks will be a game changer for the fast and straightforward development of large-scale renewable projects" and are "100 per cent owned and operated by NAC for the benefit of Ngarluma people."
Western Australian Energy Minister Amber Jade Sanderson noted that the Perdaman solar project would also connect to the vital Maitland-Karratha-Burrup transmission line. This line is identified as one of four corridors prioritized by the Cook government to accelerate the decarbonization of heavy industry in the state's north through renewable energy sources.