The Western Australian Government has announced new contracts totalling $342 million to unlock renewable energy generation as part of the largest investment in electricity transmission infrastructure in more than a decade.
The investment enables major upgrades to the northern section of the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), the electricity distribution network servicing WA from Geraldton to Albany and east to Kalgoorlie.
The contracts signed with GenusPlus, UGL Engineering, and Acciona are part of a $584 million State Budget commitment for Western Power to undertake network upgrades and expansion as part of the Clean Energy Link—North program.
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Clean Energy Link—North includes high-capacity transmission lines, terminals, substations, and transformers installed to unlock the flow of clean energy in the regions north of Perth.
The upgrade runs from Western Power’s Northern Terminal in Malaga to Three Springs.
These contracts will deliver a 26.5km overhead 132kV transmission line from Wangara to Neerabup Terminal, new 132kV and 330kV terminals and line within the existing network, including existing line conversions and upgrades.
The work also includes the design and construction of new bays and associated lines at Regans Ford, construction of a new terminal at Three Springs and upgrading the existing transmission network in and around the Northern, Neerabup and Eneabba Terminals.
Clean Energy Link—North will make around 400MW of existing wind and another 1GW of new renewable energy available to customers across the SWIS and allow for more clean energy generation in the Mid West.
This increased capacity is more than the output from the two largest state-owned coal-fired power stations (Muja D and Collie)—of just under 750MW combined.
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WA Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said, “Strengthening and expanding WA’s main electricity network is fundamental in enabling industry and households to be powered by renewable energy from the Mid West.
“It will mean industry can reliably and safely connect their wind, solar and battery projects to the transmission network, increasing the amount of renewables on our system, with the aim of doubling them by 2030.
“Clean Energy Link—North is pivotal and the start of our accelerated planning for future transmission corridors to unlock renewable energy across the state.”
