QEM sparks move for 1GW Outback energy hub

Junior miner QEM is in discussions with power industry players to establish a 1GW green energy hub near its Julia Creek vanadium and oil shale development. The company has laid the ground work with wind and solar monitoring as part of its plans for green hydrogen production at the proposed North-West Queensland mining and processing operation. Managing director Gavin Loyden said they realised the brilliant potential for large-scale generation that could feed into the CopperString transmission line and power other nearby projects as well as potentially providing a cheap energy source for QEM. Related: QEM pilot plant up and running "We've looked at the situation out there - there's not much in the way of power," Mr Loyden said. "So we looked at what we would require for the hydrogen production and industrial uses. And then we started talking to CopperString, and we've got the connection inquiry with them now. " ....Once that started to firm up, we thought, 'well, why wouldn't we take this a step further and look at what's required into the system'. "We spoke to CopperString, and they suggested that there's probably a two gigawatt shortfall in the system to meet the maximum input and what would be required. So we thought, 'well, why don't we look at a gigawatt?'." Great appetite for large-scale generation Mr Loyden stressed that QEM was not setting out to become a power company and was looking at a third-party driving the energy proposal. This would be a standalone power project not linked to the vanadium/oil shale mining project apart from offering an affordable energy source it could draw on. QEM is in detailed discussions with potential developers and Mr Loyden said they had been met with great appetite for the idea of a large-scale renewable energy project in the region. "They were interested in the larger scale stuff," he said. "So we thought we would do a PFS (prefeasibility study) with GHD and see if it stacks up, and we've done the financial modelling and we've put the equipment on site, and yeah, it certainly stacks up. "It's in the perfect geographical location for CopperString and for the region." QEM has already set up a 160m meteorological mast on its Julia Creek tenements, as well as solar measuring equipment (pictured left) to gather live data. "No matter who does it, you'll need that data before you can start. So we just wanted to get the ball rolling," Mr Loyden said. "We're trying to match the timing of this to the timing of our own project. So we just bit the bullet and kicked that process off. "Apparently that's a little bit unique in the market, but creates a more compelling story for developers. And now we're having those discussions and there is a massive appetite to do that project at that scale. "The deal for us is we just want cheap power for the next 30 years." Below: The location of QEM's oil shale and vanadium project (purple shading) in relation to the CopperString corridor (bold yellow line).

QEM sparks move for 1GW Outback energy hub

Industry Queensland

Related News

Renegade boosts coffers for Mongoose Deeps drive

New wells bring ‘step change’ for QPM energy business

Zeotech celebrates hard proof of metakaolin potential

Get access to breaking mining news, now.