Construction has commenced on Australia's largest battery project to date, boasting a storage capacity equivalent to the combined fleet of projects under construction throughout the country by the end of 2022. The government of Western Australia (WA) announced recently, on March 15th, that the construction phase has officially commenced in Collie. This battery energy storage system (BESS) project will feature a 500MW output to the grid and a substantial 2,000MWh energy storage capacity.
Funded by the state government, the project is part of WA's commitment to bolstering storage capabilities for times when variable renewable energy (VRE) sources, such as solar PV and wind, are not generating power. It also aims to aid in managing peak loads and grid congestion.
This project is integrated into the expanding portfolio of state-owned energy generator-retailer (‘gentailer’) Synergy. The company aims to deploy 3GWh of energy storage from batteries by 2025. With the Collie BESS scheduled for completion by the end of that year, Synergy is well on its way to achieving this target. Construction on Kwinana 2, a 200MW/800MWh BESS project, began in mid-2023, complementing Kwinana 1 (100MW/400MWh), which was completed in May of the previous year.
Jodie Hanns, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the local Collie-Preston electoral district, emphasized the significance of constructing Australia's largest battery in Collie, marking a significant milestone in the energy transition. The Collie region holds historical importance in WA's energy system, housing many of its large-scale thermal generation plants, including a Synergy-owned coal power plant at Collie itself, scheduled for decommissioning in 2027.
Highlighting the site's importance further is the proposed development by privately-owned French independent power producer (IPP) Neoen of another large-scale BESS in Collie. Neoen plans to initially size its asset at 200MW/800MWh, with potential expansion to 1GW/4GWh. Synergy has also expressed interest in expanding the Collie project to 1GW/4GWh, given favorable market conditions.
WA Minister for Energy Reece Whitby highlighted that the battery project will benefit local workers and families as Collie transitions away from thermal generation. Planning approval for the Collie BESS was granted in December, following a government announcement in September that Chinese battery maker CATL would supply the BESS for both it and Kwinana 2, with Spain-headquartered Power Electronics providing power conversion system (PCS) equipment to the projects.