The Western Australian Government has announced the completion of the second Kwinana big battery, as the state’s main electricity grid reaches a renewables record.
The State Government said its clean energy plan is powering ahead, with the $661 million Kwinana Battery Energy Storage System stage two, comprising 288 shipping container-sized battery modules and features 72 inverter units, with 800MWh of storage and 200MW of capacity.
Work on the project began in July 2023 and is now complete, with the battery set to switch on before Christmas 2024. The project supported around 200 jobs in construction.
The Western Australian Government said this milestone comes as the state’s grid hit a new renewable energy record, with renewables peaking at 85.1 per cent of energy on the SWIS (South West Interconnected System) on 17 November.
Western Australia has more than doubled the renewables on the grid since 2017, increasing from 14 per cent in 2017 to more than 34 per cent in 2023.
The State Government said that investing in battery systems on the grid means Western Australia can continue to drive up its renewable energy contribution, including from increased rooftop solar, and guarantees affordable and reliable energy for the state.
Synergy’s two big batteries in Kwinana will be able to power 450,000 households for up to four hours throughout Perth and beyond once the new battery is switched on.
The Kwinana big batteries join Neoen’s 560MW/2,240MWh battery unit in Collie, as well as the State Government’s Collie Battery Energy Storage System, which is due to come online in 2025.
The State Government said it is investing more than $5.4 billion in Western Australia’s energy transition.
Western Australian Premier, Roger Cook, said the State Government’s clean energy plan is setting the state up for the future and locking in affordable and reliable energy for every Western Australian.
“We’re smashing renewable energy records because of our significant investment into the energy transition.
“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.”
Western Australian Energy Minister, Reece Whitby, said with the completion of Synergy’s second Kwinana battery, the State Government is delivering on its promise to provide Western Australians with power that is clean, affordable, and reliable.
“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,” Mr Whitby said.
“As we continue to retire state-owned coal-fired power, large-scale storage will play a critical role in enabling a smooth transition and backs in households seeking to benefit from rooftop solar.”
