Collie battery construction starts

The $1.6 billion Collie battery, that is expected to be one of the biggest grid-scale batteries in the world, is one step closer towards a 2025 completion.

Energy Minister Reece Whitby today announced construction has officially started, with Collie-based company Cardinal Contractors appointed to complete site preparation earthworks for the facility.

In December, the Regional Joint Development Assessment Panel approved Synergy’s Collie battery proposal.

The JDAP report shows the project’s estimated construction cost as $1.6 billion.

Cardinal Constractors managing director Jon Andel said the company was ready to work on the transformation of Collie.

“There are many opportunities, and we have all the expertise, equipment, experience and energy to make it happen by local people, for local people," he said.

“We are proud of our strong reputation as a values-based local company and employer.

“Synergy’s decision to partner locally affirms that we have the professional, experienced people and a formidable fleet of quality plant and equipment to take on large and critical projects."

The Collie battery will have a 500 megawatt/2,000 megawatt hour capacity and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

“This is an exciting milestone for Western Australia’s decarbonisation journey,” Mr Whitby said.

“Synergy’s ground-breaking project is significant for the Collie community and will help local workers and families as Synergy seeks to exit coal-fired power by 2030.

“When complete, this battery will support reliability and more renewable energy on WA’s main electricity grid.”

Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns said Collie had been at the heart of the state’s energy system for decades and would continue to play an important role.

French renewable energy company Neoen is also building a 219MW battery storage system in Collie, to be operational by the end of this year.

Synergy is also progressing on the second stage of its Kwinana battery, with construction underway and due to be completed in late 2024.

Kwinana Battery Stage One has been providing power to the South West Interconnected System since its completion in May 2023.

Synergy also planned to build 3 gigawatt hours of storage by 2025, the state government said.