Labor commits $25m in funding to world’s largest solar and wind hydrogen plant, which is still unapproved

THE State Government has pumped $1 million into a plan by French company, Neoen, to build the world’s largest solar and wind hydrogen plant — if it gets approved.

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THE State Government has pumped $1 million into a plan by French company, Neoen, to build the world’s largest solar and wind hydrogen plant.

Neoen is finalising a plan for a 50MW electrolyser facility at its proposed wind and solar farm near Crystal Brook — which was yet to be approved.

The government said a $4 million grant and $20 million loan would be provided for the development of its “hydrogen superhub”.

The announcement has unsettled locals, who for the past year have been in talks with Neoen after it proposed a 50-turbine wind farm in the southern Flinders Ranges.

Sue Scarman and John Birrell in the Southern Flinders ranges along the Heysen Trail, at the site of the proposed windfarm which they are against. Picture: Dylan Coker

Residents from Beetaloo Valley, 20km north of Crystal Brook, were worried Neoen’s 50-turbine wind farm would be fast-tracked because of the state’s energy crisis.

At the time, Neoen’s wind farm included turbines on a section of the 1200km Heysen Trail, on the ranges extending north of Crystal Brook to Beetaloo Valley and Colby Hill.

The State Government’s own development plan said it was an area where “wind farms were not explicitly envisaged”.

Residents will meet with Neoen representatives next week to discuss the latest development. Neoen was yet to lodge an application for the wind and solar farm with the Development Assessment Commission.