One of the world’s biggest battery storage systems will be built in Western Australia as the state weans itself off coal-fired power.
The 2023/24 budget will feature $2.8 billion for energy storage, wind power generation and transmission network upgrades on the state’s main electricity grid, which is separate to the rest of the country.
Premier Mark McGowan said Thursday’s budget will deliver a cleaner energy supply that’s also reliable and affordable.
“These projects will help to decarbonise our main electricity grid, and Western Australian households as a result, facilitating the retirement of state-owned coal-fired power by 2030,” he said.
The battery storage system to be built in Collie, where the power plant will close in 2027, is part of a funding boost for tackling climate change by supporting industries to get to net zero emissions by 2050.
A $547.4 million Collie transition package announced last year will support the town over the next decade, to grow new industries andreplace lost jobs.
Energy Minister Bill Johnston said the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), the state’s main electricity grid, is in the middle of a significant transformation.
The grid is moving from a high-emissions, thermal generation base, to a low-emissions, renewable future, but also needs to support future industries in green steel, hydrogen and ammonia.
“The McGowan government’s significant investments in wind generation, storage and transmission infrastructure in this state budget are a critical step forward in that transition,” Mr Johnston said.
He said keeping the electricity grid reliable and secure remains the state government’s priority for energy.
The budget’s $2.3 billion for new battery storage includes funding a battery energy storage system in Collie, providing around 500 megawatts for up to four hours and operational before the end of 2025.
There is also funding for the 200MW Kwinana Battery Energy Storage System 2, which will provide four hours of storge, complementing the existing Big Battery at Kwinana.
The large-scale batteries will collect excess energy from rooftop solar during the day and release green energy when it is needed at peak times.
The state budget will also include $368 million for up to 210MW of large-scale renewable energy generation projects, including new wind farm at King Rocks and a potential expansion of Bright Energy Investments’ existing 180MW Warradarge Wind Farm near Eneabba.
The measures build on the $126 million investment on electricity network planning and upgrades announced alongside the SWIS Demand Assessment report released earlier this week.