Collie big battery project now under construction & will support 500 jobs

Construction has commenced on what will be one of the biggest grid-scale battery systems in Australia, the 500MW / 2,000MWh Collie Battery Energy Storage System (CBESS). 

The project is funded as part of the Western Australian Government’s commitment to expand battery storage throughout the State. 

“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,” Energy Minister Reese Whitby said. 

CBESS is located about 200 kilometres south-east of Perth, and it sits near the Collie Power Station on Boys Home Road. The project site is also about 2.5 kilometres south west of the Western Power-owned 330kV Schotts Terminal on the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), where CBESS will connect to once it is completed. 

Collie-based earthworks and rehabilitation specialists Cardinal Contractors has been appointed to complete site preparation earthworks for the project. 

The Collie Battery Energy Storage System project is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2025, and it is expected to create up to 500 jobs at peak construction. 

“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,” Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns said. 

Synergy’s batteries play a critical role in meeting peak demand, with the Kwinana Battery Stage One project supplying power to the SWIS since it was completed in May 2023. 

Meanwhile, the Kwinana Battery Stage Two project is due to be completed in late 2024. 

Large-scale batteries, such as the Kwinana and Collie projects, will provide long-term system stability and support the uptake of more renewables, with Synergy planning to build 3GWh of storage by 2025. 

Source: Government of Western Australia – Media Statements; Synergy (1, 2); Renew Economy