Whitebark adds renewable energy expertise to board

Whitebark Energy has added tactical renewable energy nous to its board with the appointment of Professor Rosalind Archer as non-executive director to help turbocharge its geothermal and green hydrogen projects. Archer’s professional background includes more than 25 years of academic, technical and commercial experience in the renewable energy sector. She is currently the Dean of Academic at Queensland’s Griffith University, Sciences Group, holds a PhD in petroleum engineering from Stanford University and is a non-executive director at New Zealand Oil & Gas.

Management says Archer brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in geothermal energy and renewable technologies, in addition to her innovative research abilities and practical insights into geothermal systems.

Just last week, the company detailed its strategic change of course from its traditional oil and gas activities in a bid to focus on commercial opportunities in the green hydrogen and renewable energy sector. It has signed a binding purchase and sale agreement with Conflux Energy Corp that will see the latter take a 90 per cent interest in Whitebark’s Wizard Lake oil and gas assets in the Canadian province of Alberta.

Management says Archer’s understanding of the hydrogen economy will be crucial towards integrating production of the gas into its existing geothermal energy portfolio and capitalising on the synergies between geothermal energy and green hydrogen production.

The appointment of Rosalind Archer signals a significant step forward in our mission to drive innovation and sustainability in the energy sector. Her leadership will be instrumental in navigating the complex landscape of renewable energy, fostering collaborations, and advancing our research and development initiatives. We are confident that her contributions will propel Whitebark Energy towards achieving our goals of becoming a leader in geothermal energy and hydrogen production.

The company is targeting the early production of green hydrogen at its tenements in Queensland using geothermal energy and is aiming to be the first enterprise in Australia to commission a commercial geothermal project.

Its initial focus is on its 100 per cent-owned geothermal and hydrogen holdings – registered as “EPG2049” – in Queensland’s Cooper Basin. It is an area that, according to Geoscience Australia, has high renewable hydrogen potential.

Just last month, Whitebark secured an additional Cooper Basin permit application for geothermal exploration that adds a further 1776 square kilometres and 573 sub-blocks, taking its total Queensland portfolio to about 6240sq km.

Management believes Archer’s technical acumen and strategic foresight will provide a solid foundation for its ambitious geothermal projects, ensuring they are both technically robust and economically viable.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@wanews.com.au