Battery Crucial to Collie's Green Energy Shift
Collie's central role in Western Australia's path to becoming a renewable energy powerhouse is taking shape with the town now home to the biggest State-owned battery.
The Cook Government has invested heavily in Collie's Just Transition in recent years, with nearly $700 million going towards job-creating initiatives, including training and workforce development at the local Jobs and Skills Centre.
Additionally, the government has invested more than $1.6 billion through Synergy in Collie Battery Energy Storage System (CBESS).
Located opposite the Collie Power Station, CBESS features 500 megawatts (MW) of storage and is capable of 2,400 megawatt hours (MWh) of output - enough to power 785,000 homes for more than four hours, making it one of the biggest batteries in Australia.
It is the third grid-scale battery delivered by the Cook Government in just over three years. The Cook Government's plan to exit State-owned coal by 2030 and bring on large-scale renewable generation and storage will put downward pressure on prices.
These developments complement the government's enormously popular $337 million WA Residential Battery Scheme, which has already helped more than 10,000 households install batteries, delivering real cost-of-living relief through reduced power bills, with funding for up to 100,000 batteries to be installed.
Collie and its coal assets have played a vital role in WA's energy system for decades, and under the Cook Government the town will continue to do so, as outlined in Collie's Just Transition Plan 2026-2030, released earlier this month.
The plan has been developed in partnership with the Just Transition Working Group, which is guiding Collie through a transition that will continue to evolve and empower communities.
It complements the Collie Investment Prospectus, also issued this month.
To read more about these documents and Collie's Just Transition, head to: www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/collie-just-transition .
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"Collie has played a vital role in powering Western Australia for decades, and under my government, it will continue to do so.
"Not only is the town now home to Australia's biggest batteries, but its future has also been bolstered by our updated Just Transition Plan, which will provide further certainty to the local workforce.
"I want to keep WA's economy the strongest in the nation by securing the State's next generation of job-creating projects.
"That's exactly what my government is delivering through Collie's Just Transition."
As stated by Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"The Cook Government is securing Collie's future and ensuring Western Australia's energy security.
"Synergy's Collie battery will capture wind and solar generation and use it to power homes when needed. Renewable generation and storage backed by gas is the least-cost energy mix for households and businesses and will put downward pressure on prices as we exit State-owned coal fired power by 2030."
As stated by South West Minister Don Punch:
"Collie has long been an economic and employment anchor for the South West, and this major investment ensures the town remains central to Western Australia's energy future.
"By backing largescale renewable infrastructure alongside strong transition planning, we are delivering real opportunities for local workers and businesses while positioning the region for longterm prosperity."
As stated by Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns:
"Synergy's Collie battery project generated about 500 jobs during construction, including 50 jobs for people living in the local community.
"Collie is now home to the two biggest operational batteries in Australia, ensuring it will continue its significant role in powering WA's main electricity system for generations to come."
https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook Labor Government/Big-battery-key-to-Collie
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