The West Australian government has unveiled an ambitious plan to revolutionize the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), the state's power grid, in order to meet the surging demand for low emissions products from its mining industry. The plan entails tripling power generation, constructing vast wind and solar farms, and adding 4,000 kilometers of new transmission lines.
Energy Minister Bill Johnston stated that the growth is expected to occur primarily within the next decade, as the mining and heavy industries in the region are actively seeking to decarbonize their operations. The investment in expanding the grid, similar to the state's gas-powered economy supported by the Dampier to Bunbury gas pipeline, aims to create a mining and materials export economy based on renewable energy.
Western Power, the operator of the state-owned grid, will kick-start the effort with an initial investment of $126 million. The grid improvement project will include the construction of a new transmission line to Kojonup, which will power a BHP plant in Kwinana and state-owned Water Corporation's desalination plants. The increased demand, estimated to reach 7.2 gigawatts by 2042, will mainly come from industry in Kwinana, green hydrogen production in the Mid West, and alumina refineries in the South West.
The government's plan emphasizes electrification and renewable energy, with wind and solar farms expected to contribute over 80% of the new generation capacity. However, gas will remain a part of the energy mix, providing flexibility for times when renewable energy generation is low. The expansion of the grid aims to ensure that the infrastructure is ready to meet the growing demand and facilitate private investments in the green metal sector.
The project represents a significant step towards a sustainable and low-emission future for Western Australia's mining industry, as it seeks to meet the increasing demand for environmentally friendly products and reduce its carbon footprint.
Spurce: watoday.com.au