The Western Australian government takes significant strides to switch to battery energy storage systems

The government of Western Australia (WA) is progressing with its strategy to transition from coal-fired power stations to battery energy storage systems (ESS). Recent reports indicate that contracts worth approximately A$1bn ($650mn) have been allocated for the development of ESS projects in Kwinana and Collie. These contracts have been awarded to companies from China and Spain.

Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL), a leading Chinese company renowned for its expertise in manufacturing lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage, has been chosen to provide the battery systems for these projects. Specifically, CATL will deliver liquid-cooled battery systems for the 500MW Collie battery ESS and the 200MW Kwinana battery ESS. For the Kwinana project, the company will supply 300 EnerC Plus units, which are containerised liquid-cooling ESS units. In contrast, around 650 of these units will be dispatched for the Collie project. The Kwinana battery ESS 2 project, which has an estimated cost of A$625mn and a capacity of 800MWh, is currently in progress and aims to be operational by the end of 2024.

Additionally, Power Electronics, a Spanish electric utility manufacturing company, is entrusted with the responsibility of providing inverters essential for both these energy storage systems.

Roger Cook, the premier of WA, expressed the region's ambition and perspective on this transition. He highlighted the importance of battery ESS in the state's efforts towards decarbonisation. By harnessing and storing renewable energy, these systems will cater to the demand during peak times. The premier envisions WA evolving into a significant player in the global green energy sector, emphasizing the potential benefits for employment, the environment, and economic growth.

The Collie battery ESS project, designed for more extended energy provision, anticipates being functional by October 2025. It will offer approximately four hours or 2,000MWh of electricity to the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), which predominantly serves Perth and a considerable portion of WA's residents.

The WA government revealed its budget plans for 2023-24, indicating a projected expenditure of about A$2.7bn for these two ESS projects. The state has also made commitments to phase out the Collie and Muja coal-fired power plants by 2029, with Synergy, a state-owned utility, currently operating them. Current energy statistics from the National Electricity Market showcase that black coal generators supply about one-third of the SWIS power, with gas and renewables accounting for the remaining share.

According to the article by Procurement Resource, the Western Australia (WA) government is investing A$1bn ($650mn) in transitioning from coal to battery energy storage systems (ESS) in Kwinana and Collie. Chinese firm CATL will supply liquid-cooled battery systems for both projects, totaling 700MW. The Kwinana project, costing A$625mn, aims to be operational by 2024. Spanish company Power Electronics will provide essential inverters. Premier Roger Cook sees ESS as pivotal for WA's decarbonization efforts and envisions the region becoming a green energy leader. The government plans to spend A$2.7bn on these projects in 2023-24 and phase out coal-fired plants by 2029.