Western Australian utility Synergy has secured planning approval for its proposed second big battery, Kwinana 2.
The state’s first big battery—the 100MW/200MWh BESS at Kwinana—recently went operational, and is able to store enough energy in reserve to power 160,000 homes for up to two hours.
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The Kwinana 2battery, which will provide 200MW capacity over four hours, is expected to be operational by late 2024.
Synergy has plans for an even larger battery, the Collie Battery Energy Storage System (CBESS), which will deliver a whopping 500MW/2000MWh of capacity.
The WA State Budget includes $368 million for new large-scale wind energy generation projects—at King Rocks and near Eneabba—as well as $126 million towards electricity network planning and upgrades to support more renewable energy on the grid.
WA Energy Minister Bill Johnston said, “WA is a leader in adopting smart solutions and cutting-edge technology for a sustainable energy system.
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“These Battery Energy Storage Systems will be crucial in managing household energy demand and supporting the uptake of residential solar.
“We are committed to delivering cleaner and more reliable power to help us reach our ambitious emissions reduction targets.”
