❓ Dr. Thomas questions the government's energy transition strategy, specifically regarding battery storage capacity, cost, and resilience. The government provides some figures but defers detailed answers to Synergy's investment program and AEMO's operational management.
AnsweredQoN 405Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ENERGY —
TRANSITION STRATEGY
405. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Energy:
This question was lodged on 20
February. I refer to the joint media statement from the Premier and Minister
for Energy on 14 June 2022 that announced that Western Australia's
state-owned coal power stations will be retired by 2030 as part of the
government's energy transition strategy.
(1) How much energy will be stored
by battery by 2030 under the strategy?
(2) How many batteries and what
capacity will be required to deliver that level of storage?
(3) What would be the cost to
construct that amount of battery storage?
(4) How many
hours of supply would that amount of storage provide to the south west
integrated system if all generation went out?
TRANSITION STRATEGY
405. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Energy:
This question was lodged on 20
February. I refer to the joint media statement from the Premier and Minister
for Energy on 14 June 2022 that announced that Western Australia's
state-owned coal power stations will be retired by 2030 as part of the
government's energy transition strategy.
(1) How much energy will be stored
by battery by 2030 under the strategy?
(2) How many batteries and what
capacity will be required to deliver that level of storage?
(3) What would be the cost to
construct that amount of battery storage?
(4) How many
hours of supply would that amount of storage provide to the south west
integrated system if all generation went out?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The following information has been provided to me by the
Minister for Energy and it was correct as at 21 February 2023.
(1) It will be a maximum
of 4 400 megawatts at any point in time by Synergy, plus the amount stored in
batteries installed by consumers and private industry.
(2) A total of
1 100 megawatts of capacity will be required by Synergy. The number of
batteries and the capacity of each storage system will be determined as part of
Synergy's investment program. This has been communicated publicly
following the announcements on 14 June 2022 at—I note that there is a website
here, which is probably not consistent with our practices so I apologise for
this—www.brightenergyfuture.wa.gov.au/our-energy-transition/.
(3) The cost of
storage systems will be determined as part of Synergy's investment
program and subject to Expenditure Review Committee consideration within the
announced $3.8 billion budget.
(4) Storage of 1 100
megawatts or 4 400 megawatts could supply 1 100 megawatts for four hours or 550
megawatts for eight hours as part of an operating power system. Synergy's
storage is being built as part of Synergy's
decarbonisation program. The Australian Energy Market Operator manages the
operations of the south west interconnected system, and consumers and
private industry are also installing storage. The idea that Synergy is the only
operator in the SWIS misunderstands the electricity system. Please note that no
electricity system in the world can operate without generation, and the WA
government and AEMO are not allowing or planning for that to occur.
of the question. The following information has been provided to me by the
Minister for Energy and it was correct as at 21 February 2023.
(1) It will be a maximum
of 4 400 megawatts at any point in time by Synergy, plus the amount stored in
batteries installed by consumers and private industry.
(2) A total of
1 100 megawatts of capacity will be required by Synergy. The number of
batteries and the capacity of each storage system will be determined as part of
Synergy's investment program. This has been communicated publicly
following the announcements on 14 June 2022 at—I note that there is a website
here, which is probably not consistent with our practices so I apologise for
this—www.brightenergyfuture.wa.gov.au/our-energy-transition/.
(3) The cost of
storage systems will be determined as part of Synergy's investment
program and subject to Expenditure Review Committee consideration within the
announced $3.8 billion budget.
(4) Storage of 1 100
megawatts or 4 400 megawatts could supply 1 100 megawatts for four hours or 550
megawatts for eight hours as part of an operating power system. Synergy's
storage is being built as part of Synergy's
decarbonisation program. The Australian Energy Market Operator manages the
operations of the south west interconnected system, and consumers and
private industry are also installing storage. The idea that Synergy is the only
operator in the SWIS misunderstands the electricity system. Please note that no
electricity system in the world can operate without generation, and the WA
government and AEMO are not allowing or planning for that to occur.
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