The Western Australian (WA) government has completed the second phase of the Kwinana big battery project, marking a major milestone in the region’s energy transition.
This phase involved constructing an A$661 million ($428 million) battery energy storage system (BESS) with a capacity of 800 MWh and a 200 MW output capability, supported by 288 battery modules and 72 inverter units.
Construction, which began in July 2023, created 200 jobs. The Kwinana BESS will provide power to 450,000 households for up to four hours, supporting Perth and surrounding areas.
WA’s renewable energy share on the grid has risen from 14% in 2017 to 34% in 2023, with renewables achieving a milestone of 85.1% on the South West Interconnected System on November 17, 2024.
The Cook Labor government has invested A$5.4 billion ($3.4 billion) to support WA’s energy transition, including phasing out coal by 2030.
The Kwinana battery complements other major projects like Neoen’s 560 MW/2,240 MWh battery in Collie and the government’s Collie BESS, set to be operational in 2025.
WA Premier Roger Cook emphasized the importance of the investment in ensuring affordable, reliable, and renewable energy for the state, stating, “Our clean energy plan is setting up WA for the future and locking in affordable and reliable energy for every Western Australian.”