Western Australia has emerged as the national leader in grid-scale battery projects, according to the Climate Council’s latest report, Battery Boom: Supercharging Australia’s Renewable Rollout.
The state currently boasts eight large batteries either operational or under commissioning — the highest number of any state or territory in Australia.
Two of these, located in the historic coal town of Collie, are set to become the country’s largest and are expected to be operational later this year.
These installations are pivotal as the WA government prepares to close its last two state-owned coal-fired generators by 2029, marking a significant step towards a cleaner, more reliable energy future.
The report highlights that pairing these grid-scale batteries with widespread rooftop solar — particularly in suburbs like Mandurah, Armadale, and Ashby — will further enhance energy efficiency and cost savings.
Mandurah alone has over 19,000 rooftop solar systems, while Armadale and Ashby each have 16,700, positioning them as key beneficiaries of upcoming state and federal battery incentive schemes set to launch by July 2025.
Nationally, the battery boom is accelerating.
There are more than 20 gigawatts of large-scale battery storage in Australia’s development pipeline — almost double the capacity planned just a year ago.
The upfront cost of big batteries has also fallen by 20 per cent in the past year, making the technology increasingly accessible for both utilities and households.
Climate Councillor and energy expert Greg Bourne underscored the significance of this shift, stating: “Around 40 per cent of our main energy grid is powered by sun and wind.
“Batteries are our bridge to a 21st-century energy grid; keeping the lights on in our homes, schools, and workplaces as our ageing coal fleet eventually retires by 2040.”
Andrew Stock, Climate Council Fellow and energy expert, added: “Household, community, and grid-scale battery storage plays a vital role in Australia’s renewable energy transition.
“States are already making headway in these areas, but we must go further and faster to ensure more Australians can reap the benefits.”
With more than 300,000 Australian households already using batteries, the report estimates that installing two million more by 2030 could collectively save Australians over $4 billion annually on power bills, while building a more resilient and sustainable energy system.
