Kalgoorlie back-up generators to be replaced

The state government will buy new back-up generators for Kalgoorlie-Boulder to firm up the Goldfields’ contingency power while it works to build more resilience into the system.

Premier Roger Cook last week announced the 40-year-old turbines, which were due for retirement in 2018, would be replaced by modern generators that would be able to start without grid power.

The announcement comes after the West Kalgoorlie back-up station tripped on Wednesday when the total blackout, caused by the destruction of five power poles by lightning, drove significant power demand.

The generators were back online by Thursday January 18 and, alongside Goldfields Power’s Parkeston plant, were feeding into the grid the next day.

Mr Cook said a tender process would be undertaken to bring the new generators online as soon as possible.

“The existing generators have kept the town powered this week, but we know that these freak weather events will be more common in the future and so we need to strengthen the network,” he said.

“The new generators will be next generation technology meaning that they'll be more reliable.

“This will deliver the short- and medium-term resilience that we need in Kalgoorlie while we work towards a longer-term renewable energy future.”

Mr Cook said the state government was investigating why the generators could not start without power, despite the expectation they should have been able to.

“The expectation was that those generators would be able to do what's called a black start, which means that they can push electrons into the system to get the system back up and running,” he said.

“Now, that didn't happen, and so we need to understand why that didn't occur.

“We need to have that black start capability, but ultimately, the solution for these edge of grid communities is to have renewable and battery energy capability as well.”