Construction begins on 500MW Australian battery project
Image courtesy Synergy
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.
The battery, which will have a 500MW/2000MWh capacity, will be funded as part of the State Government’s commitment to expand battery storage throughout Western Australia (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.
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Commented energy minister Reece Whitby in a release: “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.
“When complete, this battery will support reliability and more renewable energy on WA’s main electricity grid.”
Added Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns: “The build of Australia’s biggest battery right here in Collie marks a significant point in the energy transition.
“Collie has been at the heart of WA’s energy system for decades and will continue to play an important role in the future.
“I’m delighted that a local business has been selected to be part of this project, creating local jobs as part of the ongoing support for our community by the Cook Labor government.”
Large-scale batteries provide long-term system stability to the power grid and support the uptake of more renewables, with Synergy planning to build 3GWh of storage by 2025.
The battery in Collie is the latest project coming from the company, 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.
Originally published on Power Engineering International.
