The Cook Labor Government is progressing an important initiative to strengthen back-up generation and electricity supply resilience for the Kalgoorlie-Boulder region and broader Eastern Goldfields.
- MOU signed between Western Power and Northern Star
- Creates a framework intending to strengthen electricity supply resilience during planned and unplanned outages
- Longer-term pathway to make capacity of Parkeston Power Station available to support network
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Western Power and Northern Star (Power) Pty Ltd (Northern Star) has been announced today, to support continuity of up to 70MW of electricity supply by Parkeston Power Station during outages affecting the transmission network that supplies the Eastern Goldfields.
Once Northern Star's new onsite renewable and power facility is complete, under the MOU this could be expanded to include all planned and unplanned outages.
Once binding agreements are entered into, this will enable a path forward to provide power supply for essential services and most residential and small business customers during transmission outages.
Existing backup power supply arrangements between Western Power and existing generators will continue to be used in the interim to ensure reliability in the Eastern Goldfields.
Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Eastern Goldfields are supplied by a single 220kV transmission line extending more than 650kms which has previously been impacted by severe weather and bushfires.
The MOU follows extensive investigation by Western Power into a reliable and cost-effective solution that will enhance network reliability for homes, businesses and industry in the region.
This comes on top of a $150 million investment in the State Budget to support a locally made vanadium battery in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
When complete this battery will strengthen the electricity grid in the Goldfields, providing energy security and reliability for local homes and businesses with up to 10 hours of back-up power.
Comments attributed to Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"Kalgoorlie is the heart of the Goldfields and an important economic hub for Western Australia.
"The MOU with Northern Star is a critical step towards strengthening back-up power supply generation for one of the State's vital economic hubs.
"Power supply in Kalgoorlie-Boulder is something that we know worries residents and businesses, because over the past few years we have seen some major power outages.
"Western Power is securing a sensible and long-term arrangement to support families, businesses and the community."