The Western Australian government has announced contracts worth $342 million as part of the largest electricity transmission infrastructure investment in over a decade, marking a significant step in the state’s clean energy transition and its plan to phase out coal by 2030.
The investment targets major upgrades to the northern section of the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), the main electricity distribution network covering Western Australia from Geraldton to Albany and east to Kalgoorlie.
The contracts, awarded to GenusPlus, UGL Engineering, and Acciona, are part of a $584 million State Budget commitment to Western Power for network upgrades and expansion under the Clean Energy Link – North program.
To date, the Cook government has invested $1.6 billion in the state’s electricity network expansion.
Clean Energy Link – North involves the deployment of high-capacity transmission lines, terminals, substations, and transformers to unlock the flow of renewable energy in regions north of Perth.
The upgrades extend from Western Power’s Northern Terminal in Malaga to Three Springs and include the construction of a 26.5-kilometre overhead 132kV transmission line from Wangara to Neerabup Terminal.
Additional works comprise new 132kV and 330kV terminals and lines within the existing network, line conversions and upgrades, new bays and associated lines at Regans Ford, a new terminal at Three Springs, and overall upgrades around the Northern, Neerabup, and Eneabba Terminals.
The project is expected to create more than 400 jobs and significantly boost the network’s capacity to deliver renewable energy.
It will enable about 400MW of existing wind capacity plus an additional 1 gigawatt of new renewable energy to be made available to customers across the SWIS and facilitate further clean energy generation in the Mid West.
To contextualise, 1 gigawatt is enough to power approximately 500,000 homes, which is more capacity than the combined output of the state’s two largest coal-fired power stations, Muja D and Collie, which total just under 750MW.
Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson commented on the project’s importance, stating: “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.”
Minister Sanderson described Clean Energy Link – North as a crucial initiative and the beginning of an expedited effort to plan future transmission routes aimed at unlocking renewable energy throughout Western Australia.
She noted that significant progress has been made on the upcoming stages of infrastructure investments, with details set to be announced later this year.
Sanderson expressed pride in establishing a well-defined pathway for the state’s energy transition, which, combined with the Made in WA plan to boost local manufacturing, is expected to create greater opportunities for businesses, stimulate job growth, and promote economic diversification.
This major infrastructure investment aligns with Western Australia’s strategy to transition away from coal-fired power toward renewable energy sources, supporting long-term economic diversification and environmental goals.
