❓ Mr. Blayney asks about renewable energy initiatives on Rottnest Island. The Minister details state-wide renewable energy achievements and outlines projects on Rottnest and Kalbarri, facing interruptions from other members.
AnsweredQoN 153Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROTTNEST ISLAND — RENEWABLE ENERGY
INITIATIVES
153. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY to the Minister for
Energy:
I read with interest about plans to
generate electricity through renewable resources on Rottnest Island. Can the
minister please update the house on the renewable energy initiatives being undertaken
by this government?
INITIATIVES
153. Mr I.C. BLAYNEY to the Minister for
Energy:
I read with interest about plans to
generate electricity through renewable resources on Rottnest Island. Can the
minister please update the house on the renewable energy initiatives being undertaken
by this government?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
This government has had an unparalleled successful policy on renewable energy.
When we came to government, there were about 500 homes with solar cells on
their rooftops. There are now 180 000. That is an annual compound growth of 45
per cent, and totals 460 megawatts of installed capacity. It did not just
happen; it was because of government policy. First, at the commonwealth level
we have the renewable energy target scheme, which has encouraged large-scale
projects, and the small-scale renewable energy target scheme. Then, of course,
Synergy has feed-in tariff purchase and renewable energy buyback schemes,
through which it spends $50 million a year subsidising solar cells on rooftops.
Its subsidy for large-scale projects is $70 million. This has directly led to
the development of $850 million worth of installed capacity for large-scale
projects, and Synergy has directly invested $350 million in large-scale
programs itself. These are unparalleled achievements in renewable energy.
Now, at Rottnest, we are moving into
the next phase. Horizon Power has got together with the Rottnest Island
Authority to solve one of the biggest problems on the island—energy
costs. The island has the wind generator, which produces about 600 kilowatts,
but it also uses a lot of diesel fuel. Synergy has provided low-priced solar
cells, and a 600-kilowatt solar array is being installed on the island. It will
also be integrated with the desalination plant and the water pump, so that when
the sun is shining and the wind is blowing, water is being purified and pumped
into the dams, saving energy. This will lead to a 45 per cent reduction in
diesel consumption on Rottnest Island, saving costs for user fees on the
island. All the opposition does is bag this; it has no policy.
Another issue is Kalbarri. Kalbarri
has about a 140-kilometre —
The
SPEAKER : Sorry, just hold it a minute. We are not on to Kalbarri; it is
Rottnest Island. You have one minute, minister.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : This is a very interesting story, Mr Speaker —
The
SPEAKER : I am not interested in an interesting story. We want Rottnest.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : — addressing one of the biggest achievements. I am sure
the member will want to know about Kalbarri; it is near his electorate. I plead;
I plead.
The
SPEAKER : You have got one minute.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I have one minute. One of the biggest problems with Kalbarri is
a 140-kilometre link.
Several members interjected.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Look at them scream. They do not like it. We are building a micro-grid
to try to overcome the problems.
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I have allowed a question, in the hope that
it will finish within a reasonable time. Can you just wind this up please,
minister.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, because I know that the member for
Geraldton is very interested in Kalbarri, which is right next to his
electorate. He asked a general question.
Several members interjected.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : You divert me.
We are building a micro-grid into
Kalbarri —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is enough, thank you. Member for West Swan, I call you to
order for the first time. Member for Albany, I call you to order for the first
time. That concludes question time. Thank you. I have some statements here.
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the second time.
Treasurer, I call you to order for the first time. If you want to keep on
shouting, member for West Swan, I will call you to order for the third time.
This government has had an unparalleled successful policy on renewable energy.
When we came to government, there were about 500 homes with solar cells on
their rooftops. There are now 180 000. That is an annual compound growth of 45
per cent, and totals 460 megawatts of installed capacity. It did not just
happen; it was because of government policy. First, at the commonwealth level
we have the renewable energy target scheme, which has encouraged large-scale
projects, and the small-scale renewable energy target scheme. Then, of course,
Synergy has feed-in tariff purchase and renewable energy buyback schemes,
through which it spends $50 million a year subsidising solar cells on rooftops.
Its subsidy for large-scale projects is $70 million. This has directly led to
the development of $850 million worth of installed capacity for large-scale
projects, and Synergy has directly invested $350 million in large-scale
programs itself. These are unparalleled achievements in renewable energy.
Now, at Rottnest, we are moving into
the next phase. Horizon Power has got together with the Rottnest Island
Authority to solve one of the biggest problems on the island—energy
costs. The island has the wind generator, which produces about 600 kilowatts,
but it also uses a lot of diesel fuel. Synergy has provided low-priced solar
cells, and a 600-kilowatt solar array is being installed on the island. It will
also be integrated with the desalination plant and the water pump, so that when
the sun is shining and the wind is blowing, water is being purified and pumped
into the dams, saving energy. This will lead to a 45 per cent reduction in
diesel consumption on Rottnest Island, saving costs for user fees on the
island. All the opposition does is bag this; it has no policy.
Another issue is Kalbarri. Kalbarri
has about a 140-kilometre —
The
SPEAKER : Sorry, just hold it a minute. We are not on to Kalbarri; it is
Rottnest Island. You have one minute, minister.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : This is a very interesting story, Mr Speaker —
The
SPEAKER : I am not interested in an interesting story. We want Rottnest.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : — addressing one of the biggest achievements. I am sure
the member will want to know about Kalbarri; it is near his electorate. I plead;
I plead.
The
SPEAKER : You have got one minute.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : I have one minute. One of the biggest problems with Kalbarri is
a 140-kilometre link.
Several members interjected.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Look at them scream. They do not like it. We are building a micro-grid
to try to overcome the problems.
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I have allowed a question, in the hope that
it will finish within a reasonable time. Can you just wind this up please,
minister.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, because I know that the member for
Geraldton is very interested in Kalbarri, which is right next to his
electorate. He asked a general question.
Several members interjected.
Dr
M.D. NAHAN : You divert me.
We are building a micro-grid into
Kalbarri —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is enough, thank you. Member for West Swan, I call you to
order for the first time. Member for Albany, I call you to order for the first
time. That concludes question time. Thank you. I have some statements here.
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the second time.
Treasurer, I call you to order for the first time. If you want to keep on
shouting, member for West Swan, I will call you to order for the third time.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.