Synergy secures planning approval for 200 MW energy storage project in Western Australia

Synergy has received planning approval to proceed with the development of a second big battery in Australia, Kwinana 2. The first big battery, a 100 MW/200 MWh BESS, has gone operational at Kwinana and is capable of storing enough energy to power 160,000 homes for up to two hours. The Kwinana 2 battery is expected to provide 200 MW capacity over four hours of storage and become operational by late 2024.

The addition of this amount of battery storage to the grid is necessary for large-scale renewable energy assets to connect to the network. KBESS2 will link to the 330 kV Western Power transmission system via existing infrastructure at the adjacent KBESS1 site. While the KBESS2 layout is still being determined, it is anticipated that the battery will be around 350 m in length and 150 m in width. The design will include containerized/modularised batteries and infrastructure, including inverters, transformers, and acoustic walls, which will surround the perimeter of the battery.

The project plays a crucial role in closing coal-fired power stations, following the State Government’s retirement schedule to achieve its 2030 emissions reduction targets.