Woodside Energy has submitted plans to build a utility-scale solar-storage project with a generation capacity of up to 500 MW in Western Australia to help power its Pluto LNG export facility.
The proposal, submitted to Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority, states Woodside’s intent to build a solar facility near Karratha in Pilbara, Western Australia. The initial phase of the project would combine 100 MWac of solar PV generation with a battery energy storage facility with a capacity of 400 MWh. Woodside intends to gain permission to extend the solar capacity to up to 500 MWac.
Woodside Energy will construct and operate the project, which will be connected to the North West Interconnected System (NWIS). The system is operated by the state-owned power company Horizon Power. Horizon will construct accompanying infrastructure for the project, including a 20 km-long transmission line to connect the solar facility with the NWIS.
