Synergy has installed the necessary containerised battery systems at Kwinana Battery Stage Two — which will be WA’s biggest grid-connected battery energy storage system, providing 200 megawatts of power with 800MW hours of energy storage.
This milestone marks a major step in expanding the WA government’s battery portfolio, as it will allow for cleaner, reliable and affordable energy for the state.
Once complete, the new battery system will power 370,000 average homes in WA for approximately four hours.
Kwinana Battery Stage Two has already created more than 160 jobs during its current construction phase and is due to be complete in late 2024.
The state government is investing more than $3 billion towards renewable energy generation, transmission and storage as part of its commitment to the energy transition.
That investment includes supporting Synergy to expand its portfolio of battery assets to 3000MWh of storage capacity by the end of 2025.
WA Premier Roger Cook stated, “These large-scale batteries allow us to pump more renewable energy into the grid while keeping our system stable — and it’s great to see this transition happen right in the heart of the Kwinana industrial strip.”
Installation of the Kwinana batteries comes as Synergy gears up to begin works early this year in Collie on one of Australia’s biggest lithium-based batteries.
Once built, that battery will provide 500MW of power with 2000MWh of energy storage.
Large-scale battery storage helps to provide system stability and supports the continued uptake of renewable electricity generation in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS).
Newly installed battery systems at Kwinana Battery Stage Two were supplied by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL).
Power Electronics has been contracted to provide 72 inverters.
WA Energy Minister said: “Renewables uptake is surging in WA with the SWIS at times powered by more than 80 per cent renewables.
“Through a major expansion of battery storage in WA, the Cook Government is ensuring the security and reliability of the state’s energy system.”