Western Australia’s Green Revolution: Xodus Claims 16,000-Hectare Hydrogen Megasite

While the rest of Australia debates climate targets, Western Australia just dropped a billion-dollar bet on becoming a green energy powerhouse. The state revealed its Strategic Industries Fund with a cool $1 billion backing, aiming to create 15,000 jobs in renewable energy. That’s not pocket change.

The crown jewel? The Murchison Green Hydrogen Project. This beast secured A$814 million from the Australian Hydrogen Headstart program and sits on 89,000 hectares of coastal land, 600 kilometers north of Perth. Imagine this: 6 GW of wind and solar farms powering 3 GW of electrolysers, churning out 1.9 million tonnes of green ammonia annually.

The site’s 30-meter deep waters mean massive ships can pull right up to load hydrogen for Europe. Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, those Danish renewable energy specialists, are bankrolling the whole operation. Environmental studies? Done. Final investment decision? Coming in 2026. Construction? 2027. They’re not messing around.

Meanwhile, Collie’s getting a $662 million makeover from its coal-dependent past. The government threw $7.5 million at Magnium Australia for magnesium production, because why not diversify while you’re at it. Green Steel of WA is building a low-emissions facility, and Tesla’s battery re-manufacturing plant should be operational by October 2025.

Collie’s $662 million transformation from coal town to green manufacturing hub shows industrial evolution in real-time.

It’s like watching a rust belt town discover Silicon Valley. The government allocated another $60 million specifically for new energy industries, streamlining project assessments while keeping environmental standards intact. They’re trying to have their cake and eat it too – rapid development with rigorous protection. The state is slashing assessment timeframes by up to 50% to accelerate clean energy project delivery.

Western Australia’s positioning itself as the Middle East of green hydrogen. The Mid West region‘s perfect for shipping to Europe, complete with dedicated desalination plants and marine export facilities. A new TrHyHub study confirms the feasibility of exporting green ammonia from Oakajee SIA to Germany through a single point mooring solution. Similar to U.S. trends, this initiative reflects the massive growth in renewables over fossil fuel investments. While other states talk about net-zero targets, WA’s literally building the infrastructure.

Sure, balancing development with environmental protection sounds like walking a tightrope in a windstorm. But with completed impact studies and a focus on circular economy principles, they might just pull it off. The state’s betting its industrial future on hydrogen, steel, and batteries. Bold move. Let’s see if it pays off.