❓ The Minister for Energy outlines the government's investment in battery energy storage systems across regional WA, highlighting benefits for economic development, local jobs, and residents through increased solar uptake and reduced energy bills. The Minister also notes private sector investment in renewable energy.
AnsweredQoN 782Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RENEWABLE
ENERGY — REGIONS
782. Ms D.G. D'ANNA to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's significant
investment in renewable energy and driving the take-up of rooftop solar power
across regional Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on how the government's investment in battery
energy storage systems in regional WA will support economic development, local
jobs and local businesses?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house what this investment will mean for residents in the
regions?
ENERGY — REGIONS
782. Ms D.G. D'ANNA to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's significant
investment in renewable energy and driving the take-up of rooftop solar power
across regional Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on how the government's investment in battery
energy storage systems in regional WA will support economic development, local
jobs and local businesses?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house what this investment will mean for residents in the
regions?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I am very pleased to answer that question. The great news is that we are
investing in battery energy storage systems right across the Horizon service
area, including in the member for Kimberley's electorate. We have
batteries in Onslow as part of the microgrid, which is also supported by
customer batteries that are integrated into the system. We have batteries in
Denham, Esperance and Hopetoun. We are using batteries as part of the
regularisation of power for remote Aboriginal communities, including Kalumburu,
Warmun, Bidyadanga, Ardyaloon, Beagle Bay and Djarindjin. We have battery
energy storage systems going into Broome, Carnarvon, Gascoyne Junction,
Exmouth, Marble Bar, Menzies, Wiluna, Yalgoo and Yungngora as part of Renewing
the Regions.
I
will just give the example of the battery system going into Marble Bar, which
will allow additional solar energy installations by the community there.
These nine battery energy storage systems will allow 3 000 extra households in
regional Western Australia to have rooftop solar, which could see them reduce
their energy bills by as much as $1 275 a year. I just remind members that that
is how much the Leader of the Opposition
asked us to give to consumers. It shows what can be done. The other thing, of
course, is that we are using local contractors as part of the rollout of
these projects, so that is creating local employment. I give the example of the
work being done in Derby, where we have Aboriginal-owned business as part of
the installation solution up there. Of course, we are also allowing local
businesses to get more out of their energy systems by making them more dynamic.
It just shows that this government has a real plan to transition to a lower
carbon future.
The
other thing I will point out, although the government is not paying for this,
is that we are really pleased by the level of investment from the
private sector in using batteries and other renewable technologies. Last week,
I was at the Agnew gold mine where battery systems are being used as part of
its microgrid. I expect millions of dollars of renewable energy projects in Western
Australia because of the leadership of the McGowan Labor government, which is
bringing low-emission technologies to Western Australia. I expect that the
largest investment in renewable energy in Australia over the next few years
will be in Western Australia.
I am very pleased to answer that question. The great news is that we are
investing in battery energy storage systems right across the Horizon service
area, including in the member for Kimberley's electorate. We have
batteries in Onslow as part of the microgrid, which is also supported by
customer batteries that are integrated into the system. We have batteries in
Denham, Esperance and Hopetoun. We are using batteries as part of the
regularisation of power for remote Aboriginal communities, including Kalumburu,
Warmun, Bidyadanga, Ardyaloon, Beagle Bay and Djarindjin. We have battery
energy storage systems going into Broome, Carnarvon, Gascoyne Junction,
Exmouth, Marble Bar, Menzies, Wiluna, Yalgoo and Yungngora as part of Renewing
the Regions.
I
will just give the example of the battery system going into Marble Bar, which
will allow additional solar energy installations by the community there.
These nine battery energy storage systems will allow 3 000 extra households in
regional Western Australia to have rooftop solar, which could see them reduce
their energy bills by as much as $1 275 a year. I just remind members that that
is how much the Leader of the Opposition
asked us to give to consumers. It shows what can be done. The other thing, of
course, is that we are using local contractors as part of the rollout of
these projects, so that is creating local employment. I give the example of the
work being done in Derby, where we have Aboriginal-owned business as part of
the installation solution up there. Of course, we are also allowing local
businesses to get more out of their energy systems by making them more dynamic.
It just shows that this government has a real plan to transition to a lower
carbon future.
The
other thing I will point out, although the government is not paying for this,
is that we are really pleased by the level of investment from the
private sector in using batteries and other renewable technologies. Last week,
I was at the Agnew gold mine where battery systems are being used as part of
its microgrid. I expect millions of dollars of renewable energy projects in Western
Australia because of the leadership of the McGowan Labor government, which is
bringing low-emission technologies to Western Australia. I expect that the
largest investment in renewable energy in Australia over the next few years
will be in Western Australia.
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