Construction has begun on Synergy‘s Collie battery energy storage system, which will be one of the biggest grid-scale batteries in Australia when complete and will provide significant security to Western Australia’s main power system.
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The battery, which will have a 500MW/2,000MWh capacity, will be funded as part of the state government’s commitment to expand battery storage throughout WA.
Synergy’s batteries are already playing a critical role in meeting peak demand, with Kwinana Battery Stage One providing power to the South West Interconnected System since it was completed in May 2023.
Kwinana Battery Stage Two is under construction and due to be completed in late-2024.
Collie-based earthworks and rehabilitation specialists Cardinal Contractors has been awarded the contract to complete site preparation earthworks for the battery facility, with up to 500 jobs expected to be created at the peak of construction.
The battery is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Large-scale batteries provide long-term system stability and support the uptake of more renewables, with Synergy planning to build 3GWh of storage by 2025.
Western Australian Energy Minister Reece Whitby said, “This is an exciting milestone for Western Australia’s decarbonisation journey.
“Synergy’s ground-breaking project is significant for the Collie community and will help local workers and families as Synergy seeks to exit coal-fired power by 2030.
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“When complete, this battery will support reliability and more renewable energy on WA’s main electricity grid.”
