bp today agreed to acquire a 40.5 per cent equity stake in and to become operator of the Asian Renewable Energy Hub (AREH), which has the potential to be one of the largest renewables and green hydrogen hubs in the world.
Based on the development of world-scale renewable power generation, AREH, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, intends to supply renewable power to local customers in the largest mining region in the world and also produce green hydrogen and green ammonia for the domestic Australian market and export to major international users.
AREH has plans to develop onshore wind and solar power generation in multiple phases to a total generating capacity of up to 26 gigawatts (GW) – the equivalent of producing over 90 terawatt hours per year, which is around a third of all electricity generated in Australia in 20201.
At full capacity, AREH is expected to be capable of producing around 1.6 million tonnes of green hydrogen or 9 million tonnes of green ammonia, per annum. Situated on a 6,500-square kilometre site, AREH is already in a highly advantaged position with access to abundant solar and wind resources with consistent output.
The Pilbara is a globally competitive and energy intensive mining region with substantial energy demand and carbon emissions. At full capacity, AREH is expected to abate around 17 million tonnes of carbon in domestic and export markets annually, which would equate to roughly 0.5 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon savings over the lifetime of the project2.
Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath, bp’s executive vice president of gas and low carbon energy, said: “AREH is set to be one of the largest renewable and green hydrogen energy hubs in the world and can make a significant contribution to Australia and the wider Asia Pacific region’s energy transition. It truly reflects what integrated energy is – combining solar and onshore wind power with hydrogen production and using it to help transform sectors and regions. It also reflects our belief that Australia has the potential to be a powerhouse in the global energy transition, benefitting from both its existing infrastructure and abundant renewable energy resources.
We believe AREH can be a cornerstone project for us in helping our local and global customers and partners in meeting their net zero and energy commitments. It will also serve as a long-term clean energy security contributor in Asia Pacific, helping countries such as South Korea and Japan to decarbonize.”
When fully developed, AREH could provide significant net renewable generating capacity for bp as well as making a material contribution to its strategic aim to capture a 10 per cent share in core hydrogen markets globally.
Frédéric Baudry, president, bp Australia added:
"bp brings a broad range of capabilities to help bring the project to fruition, with extensive experience in constructing and operating facilities of this scale in remote locations in close collaboration with local communities, and leveraging our global shipping and trading businesses. We also have the benefit of deep experience in working with customers looking for decarbonization solutions and delivering low-carbon energy to the global market.”
First proposed in 2014, the AREH project has been developed to date by partners that currently comprise InterContinental Energy, CWP Global and Macquarie Capital and Macquarie’s Green Investment Group. Under the terms of agreement, bp will acquire a 40.5% interest in the project and will assume operatorship from 1 July 2022, subject to approvals. The other partner shareholders in AREH will continue to be InterContinental Energy (26.4%), CWP Global (17.8%) and Macquarie Capital and Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (15.3%).
bp has set an ambition to become a net zero company by 2050 or sooner, and to help the world get to net zero. Our team in Australia is working hard on our low carbon goals via alternative energy solutions, technology and as a gas producer. In April 2022 the Australian Government announced up to (AUD) $70 million of funding for a green hydrogen hub at bp’s Kwinana site in Western Australia, which forms part of bp’s broader plans to develop the site as an integrated energy hub that produces and distributes fuel for the future.
bp has been operating in Australia for more than 100 years and is engaged in the exploration and production of oil, natural gas and liquefied natural gas, the marketing of petroleum and lubricant products and the development of low and zero carbon energy for its customers in Australia and the region.
Glenn Byres
+61 419 695 435
Email: bppressANZ@bp.com
Rita Brown
Email: rita.brown@bp.com
Andy Munro
+61 419 858 121
Email: andy.munro@intercontinentalenergy.com
Dean Bialek (Australia)
+61 400 286 356
Email: dean.bialek@cwp.global
Mia Kovačić (Europe / UK)
+381 69 2244 586
Email: mia.kovacic@cwp.global
Lisa Jamieson
+61 416 237 332
Email: Lisa.Jamieson@macquarie.com