Construction has begun on Synergy’s Collie battery energy storage system, which will be one of the biggest grid-scale batteries in Australia when complete and will provide significant security to Western Australia’s main power system.

Artist’s impression

Construction has begun on Synergy’s Collie battery energy storage system, which will be one of the biggest grid-scale batteries in Australia when complete and will provide significant security to Western Australia’s main power system.

The battery, which will have a 500 megawatt/2000 megawatt-hour capacity, will be funded as part of the state government’s commitment to expanding battery storage throughout WA.

Collie-based earthworks and rehabilitation specialists Cardinal Contractors has been awarded the contract to complete site preparation earthworks for the battery facility, with up to 500 jobs expected to be created at the peak of construction. The battery is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

“This is an exciting milestone for Western Australia’s decarbonisation journey. Synergy’s ground-breaking project is significant for the Collie community and will help local workers and families as Synergy seeks to exit coal-fired power by 2030,” said Hon. Reece Whitby, WA Energy Minister.

“When complete, this battery will support reliability and more renewable energy on WA’s main electricity grid,” he added.

Large-scale batteries provide long-term system stability and support the uptake of more renewables, with Synergy planning to build three gigawatt hours of storage by 2025.

Synergy‘s batteries are already playing a critical role in meeting peak demand, with Kwinana Battery Stage One providing power to the South West Interconnected System since it was completed in May 2023.

Kwinana Battery Stage Two is under construction and is due to be completed in late 2024.