First units installed at Collie big battery
The first containerised battery units are now in place at one of WA’s biggest batteries, the Collie battery energy storage system.
When fully operational, the battery will provide 500MW of power with 2000MWh of storage when connected to the grid.
The first 80 units are now in place, with the entire system to include 640 units when complete.
The Collie battery will join Synergy’s existing battery systems in Kwinana and soak up excess solar and wind energy during the day to provide system stability and support the continued uptake of renewables.
To date, the WA Government has invested $5.4b in the energy transition as part of the plan to provide clean, affordable and reliable energy for the state’s future.
WA Energy Minister Reece Whitby commented on the future of the state’s power supply.
“We know large-scale storage is important in our state because it supports household investment in rooftop solar and will allow us to continue our phased and sensible plan to transition out of coal by 2030,” he said.
“By installing these containerised battery systems in Collie, Synergy is one step close to securing a cleaner energy mix that can provide power to the system when it’s most needed.”
Creating jobs in Collie
The WA Government has allocated $134m from its Collie Industrial Transition Fund to activate Collie’s Coolangatta Industrial Estate to help secure major new job-creating industries for the region.
Around $8.3m will be used to secure 155ha of industrial land while $8.5m has been allocated to support the delivery of essential infrastructure upgrades to the Coolangatta Industrial Estate’s power, transport and water supplies.
The remaining $117.2m has been set aside to deliver these works once detailed design is complete.
This funding is an important step towards securing new major industrial projects for Collie in the lead up to 2030, when state-owned coal fired power stations will close.
Furthermore, stage two of the WesTrac Technology Training Centre, a training hub for autonomous vehicle technology, is nearing completion and set for launch to market in November this year.
Collie’s Quantum Filtration production facility has also officially opened with the site now commissioned and ready for operations.
WA Premier Roger Cook says there’s growing interest to establish projects in Collie.
“Opening up industry-land land at Coolangatta is a critical next step for Collie, to make this town as attractive as possible for major projects,” he said.
“This commitment today will help to secure Collie’s future as an industry hub, putting its skilled workforce to best use and setting up this town for the long term.”