Western Australia has achieved a significant milestone in its clean energy transition, with the completion of the second stage of the Kwinana Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
This comes as the state recorded a peak of 85.1 per cent renewable energy on the South West Interconnected System earlier this month, marking a new high in sustainable energy generation, the WA government said in a news release.
The $661 million project, which began construction in July 2023, features 288 shipping container-sized battery modules and 72 inverter units.
With a storage capacity of 800 megawatt-hours and 200 megawatts of output, the battery is set to come online before Christmas, providing energy storage and stability for Western Australia’s grid.
“Our clean energy plan is setting up WA for the future and locking in affordable and reliable energy for every Western Australian,” said Premier Roger Cook.
“We’re smashing renewable energy records because of our Labor Government’s significant investment into the energy transition.”
The Kwinana BESS, along with other large-scale storage projects, plays a key role in the state’s energy strategy. Once operational, the two Kwinana batteries will collectively have the capacity to power 450,000 households for up to four hours, ensuring stable energy supplies during peak demand periods.
Energy Minister Reece Whitby highlighted the system’s importance in leveraging renewable energy sources.
“It won’t just soak up excess rooftop solar and onshore wind during the day – it will provide electricity in the evening, when the sun doesn’t shine, and the wind doesn’t blow,” he said.
The WA Labor Government has been a driving force behind the state’s transition to renewable energy, increasing its share on the grid from 14 per cent in 2017 to over 34 per cent in 2023.
As part of its strategy, the government is investing more than $5.4 billion into energy transition initiatives, which include the Kwinana batteries and Neoen’s 560MW/2,240MWh battery in Collie.
Premier Cook emphasised the role of these investments in ensuring a sustainable energy future.
“The Kwinana big batteries will play a vital role in keeping our energy system reliable and stable, allowing us to bring on more renewable energy and sensibly phase out coal by 2030,” he said.
As the state continues its commitment to phasing out coal-fired power by the end of the decade, large-scale battery storage systems are emerging as critical components in supporting WA’s renewable energy ambitions.
“With the completion of Synergy’s second Kwinana battery, we are delivering on our promise to provide Western Australians with power that is clean, affordable, and reliable,” said Minister Whitby.
