With the battery systems in place at the Kwinana Battery stage two, Western Australia has achieved a significant milestone in renewable energy plan.
The containerised battery systems at Kwinana, installed by Synergy, will be WA’s largest grid-connected battery energy storage system, providing local households with 200 megawatts of power and 800MW hours of energy storage.
Once completed, the new battery system will be capable of powering approximately 370,000 average homes in WA for about four hours.
The battery project has also provided significant benefits to the local economy, creating more than 160 jobs during its current construction phase. It is expected to be completed in late 2024.
According to the Cook Government, it is investing more than $3 billion in renewable energy generation, transmission, and storage as part of its commitment to the energy transition, aiming to deliver cleaner, more reliable, and affordable energy for WA’s future.
This investment includes supporting Synergy to expand its portfolio of battery assets to 3000MWh of storage capacity by the end of 2025.
The installation of the Kwinana batteries comes as Synergy gears up to begin work early this year in Collie on one of Australia’s largest lithium-based batteries. Once built, that battery will provide 500MW of power and 2000MWh of energy storage.
Large-scale battery storage helps provide system stability and supports the continued uptake of renewable electricity generation in the South West Interconnected System.
The newly installed battery systems at Kwinana Battery Stage Two were supplied by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL). Power Electronics has been contracted to provide 72 inverters.
According to WA Premier Roger Cook, his government is doing what is right by investing in WA’s future to deliver a strong economy for generations to come.
“The Kwinana Battery Stage Two is a key part of our energy transition, ensuring WA has cleaner, more reliable, and affordable energy in the future,” Cook said.
“These large-scale batteries allow us to pump more renewable energy into the grid while keeping our system stable – and it’s great to see this transition happening right in the heart of the Kwinana industrial strip.”
WA’s Energy Minister Reece Whitby said the news marks an exciting milestone in Western Australia’s renewable energy revolution.
“Renewables uptake is surging in WA, with the SWIS at times powered by more than 80 percent renewables,” he said.
“Through a major expansion of battery storage in WA, the Cook Government is ensuring the security and reliability of the state’s energy system.”
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