❓ The Minister outlines the government's commitment to wind turbine manufacturing in WA, highlighting feasibility studies, investments in green energy infrastructure, and broader efforts to enhance local manufacturing and create jobs in the green energy sector.
AnsweredQoN 742Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WIND TURBINE MANUFACTURING
742. Mr D.A.E. SCAIFE to the Minister for State Development,
Jobs and Trade:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's efforts to diversify the Western Australian economy
through its investment in local manufacturing. Can the minister update the
house on the work being undertaken to identify the requirements for a potential
wind turbine manufacturing hub in WA, and outline to the house how growing our
capacity to manufacture components for wind turbines will support local jobs
and the local economy?
742. Mr D.A.E. SCAIFE to the Minister for State Development,
Jobs and Trade:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's efforts to diversify the Western Australian economy
through its investment in local manufacturing. Can the minister update the
house on the work being undertaken to identify the requirements for a potential
wind turbine manufacturing hub in WA, and outline to the house how growing our
capacity to manufacture components for wind turbines will support local jobs
and the local economy?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question
and acknowledge his support for advanced manufacturing in Western Australia and
great manufacturing jobs.
The McGowan government is powering
ahead with its commitment to diversify the economy, enhance Western Australia's
manufacturing capabilities and, most importantly, create the jobs of the future
by examining what local manufacturing opportunities there are in Western Australia,
particularly in servicing the opportunities for
wind turbine components. The state government has commissioned independent
consultant Aurecon to undertake a comprehensive full feasibility study
to progress the findings of a previous analysis that initially examined wind
farm supply opportunities. In 2020, the prefeasibility study recommended
actions towards progressing wind turbine
manufacturing in WA, including the development of a detailed approach for
government trading enterprises in the energy sector. It identified that
government investment and financial assistance will be critical to transition Western
Australian businesses to wind turbine component manufacturing. The full
feasibility study is the next step in our $10 million wind turbine manufacturing
initiative to support and facilitate local wind turbine manufacturing. The feasibility study will complement the WA
government's plan to invest an estimated $3.8 million in green energy infrastructure, which is going to be vital if we are going to cut our emissions
by 80 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030. We know that Western Australia has an
abundance of solar energy and an abundance of wind energy, and it is incumbent on us to take advantage of the
opportunities for our economy and to make sure that we are well advanced in terms of the supply chain in providing all those elements of their
manufacturing.
Just
yesterday, I attended the Greenbushes lithium operation operated by Talison
Lithium, with the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and, of course, the Premier.
This site is particularly important because it produces 22 per cent of the
world's lithium supply. The challenge for us is not necessarily to dig
up more lithium, although we want to; it is to drive up our value on the global
supply chain by ensuring that we are processing it. It is great to see that
some terrific work is going on at Tianqi Lithium and Albemarle to develop
lithium hydroxide facilities to make sure that we are part of the green energy
manufacturing future.
This
comes on top of the great work done by the former member for Cockburn as chair
of our working party on the supply and manufacture of iron ore and grain
railcars, and that comes on top of the great work done by the Premier and the
Minister for Transport in bringing back railcar manufacturing to Western Australia.
I am getting a little bit older and
a bit greyer, but I remember when the Liberal–National government in
1993 closed down the Midland railyards and rang the death knell for
manufacturing and heavy manufacturing of railcar components in this state. Only
one party in government will bring back manufacturing to Western Australia. We
are bringing it back as part of our green energy future. We are bringing back
the jobs that it provides and we are adding value to the Western Australian
economy. This is all proof that we can and should manufacture our own future
right here in WA.
and acknowledge his support for advanced manufacturing in Western Australia and
great manufacturing jobs.
The McGowan government is powering
ahead with its commitment to diversify the economy, enhance Western Australia's
manufacturing capabilities and, most importantly, create the jobs of the future
by examining what local manufacturing opportunities there are in Western Australia,
particularly in servicing the opportunities for
wind turbine components. The state government has commissioned independent
consultant Aurecon to undertake a comprehensive full feasibility study
to progress the findings of a previous analysis that initially examined wind
farm supply opportunities. In 2020, the prefeasibility study recommended
actions towards progressing wind turbine
manufacturing in WA, including the development of a detailed approach for
government trading enterprises in the energy sector. It identified that
government investment and financial assistance will be critical to transition Western
Australian businesses to wind turbine component manufacturing. The full
feasibility study is the next step in our $10 million wind turbine manufacturing
initiative to support and facilitate local wind turbine manufacturing. The feasibility study will complement the WA
government's plan to invest an estimated $3.8 million in green energy infrastructure, which is going to be vital if we are going to cut our emissions
by 80 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030. We know that Western Australia has an
abundance of solar energy and an abundance of wind energy, and it is incumbent on us to take advantage of the
opportunities for our economy and to make sure that we are well advanced in terms of the supply chain in providing all those elements of their
manufacturing.
Just
yesterday, I attended the Greenbushes lithium operation operated by Talison
Lithium, with the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and, of course, the Premier.
This site is particularly important because it produces 22 per cent of the
world's lithium supply. The challenge for us is not necessarily to dig
up more lithium, although we want to; it is to drive up our value on the global
supply chain by ensuring that we are processing it. It is great to see that
some terrific work is going on at Tianqi Lithium and Albemarle to develop
lithium hydroxide facilities to make sure that we are part of the green energy
manufacturing future.
This
comes on top of the great work done by the former member for Cockburn as chair
of our working party on the supply and manufacture of iron ore and grain
railcars, and that comes on top of the great work done by the Premier and the
Minister for Transport in bringing back railcar manufacturing to Western Australia.
I am getting a little bit older and
a bit greyer, but I remember when the Liberal–National government in
1993 closed down the Midland railyards and rang the death knell for
manufacturing and heavy manufacturing of railcar components in this state. Only
one party in government will bring back manufacturing to Western Australia. We
are bringing it back as part of our green energy future. We are bringing back
the jobs that it provides and we are adding value to the Western Australian
economy. This is all proof that we can and should manufacture our own future
right here in WA.
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