First Nations energy developer Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC) has lodged the final planning application for a proposed 1.5 gigawatt (GW) wind, solar and battery project in Western Australia's Pilbara region, its biggest renewable energy development yet.
The proposed Baru Marnda project, about 55km south of Karratha, would combine up to 1,000 megawatts (MW) of wind generation from 143 turbines with up to 500MW of solar capacity across four arrays, supported by battery storage.
The application marks another step in YEC's plans to develop renewable energy projects on Yindjibarndi Country, as major Pilbara miners face growing pressure to reduce emissions and secure alternative energy supplies.
YEC said the development application combined work across all facets of the project.
"The [Baru Marnda] development application brings together work across planning, environment, cultural heritage, water, transport, bushfire, noise, visual impact, aviation and land tenure," a YEC spokesperson said.
The project is targeting a final investment decision next year, with construction expected to begin in 2028 and first power scheduled for 2031.
YEC is a partnership between the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation and Philippine-based ACEN Renewables, established to develop a portfolio of renewable energy projects across lands where YAC holds a mix of exclusive, non-exclusive and extinguished Native Title rights.
The group reached financial close on its first project, the 75MW Jinbi solar farm, earlier this year, with that development located within the same Chichester Range transmission project area as Baru Marnda.
YEC has also been pursuing transmission infrastructure that could help connect renewable generation to industrial customers in the Pilbara.
"The proposed corridor would connect the Maitland Strategic Industrial Area with [up to 1GW of] renewable energy generation to its south, potentially including Baru Marnda," YEC said.
YEC said it had been awarded Priority Project status for the 70km Chichester Range Corridor, one of four priority common-use transmission corridors identified for the Pilbara.
The proposed infrastructure could provide a pathway for renewable energy generated in the region to reach industrial users, including major mining operations.
The Pilbara is one of Australia's most economically significant regions, underpinned by large iron ore operations run by BHP, Rio Tinto, Hancock Prospecting and Fortescue. While heavily reliant on fossil fuels, investment in renewable energy is beginning to reshape the region's industrial energy supply.
Yindjibarndi representatives revealed in May they were in discussions with BHP about supplying renewable electricity to its operations.
Baru Marnda was previously presented as two separate projects in planning documents lodged last September as part of the Jinbi proposal.
A subsequent referral via the Commonwealth's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act combined the proposals last August into a single development covering more than 42,000 hectares, with further assessment under the federal environmental approvals process then required.
YEC is also developing the Eastern Development Zone, another large-scale renewable energy proposal in the Pilbara of similar scale to Baru Marnda.
The Eastern Development Zone is about 50km from the proposed Hamersley Range transmission corridor and 80km from major mining operations, with its development estimated to be approximately 18 months behind Baru Marnda.
