Kwinana Battery Energy Storage System Stage 2

Over recent years, there has been a notable increase in the adoption of renewable power within the SWIS. Presently, more than 30% of Western Australia's electricity is derived from renewable sources. However, the output of renewable energy generation is closely tied to prevailing weather conditions. Consequently, there are fluctuations in the availability of renewable energy minute-to-minute, and distinct patterns may emerge across different seasons. These variations pose potential challenges to the overall stability of the grid.

To ensure Western Australia's power system remains reliable, the flow of electricity generation into the grid and the demand for electricity need to be balanced. As part of the State Government's decarbonisation agenda, Western Australia's largest energy retailer and generator, Synergy, has been entrusted with the implementation of a series of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects.

Following the successful commissioning of the Kwinana Battery Energy Storage System Stage 1 (KBESS1) in 2023, the Kwinana Battery Energy Storage System Stage 2 (KBESS2) is intended to serve as an additional utility-scale energy storage solution for the SWIS.

Having played a key role in the development of KBESS1 as Owners Engineer, we continue to support Synergy in the planning and delivery of KBESS2. As the project transitioned into the construction phase, Synergy engaged us to support the delivery of this important project.

The KBESS2 project is being executed through an Integrated Project Management Team (IPMT) delivery model, employing a schedule-driven and collaborative approach to ensure the battery storage becomes operational by late 2024.

As the Delivery Partner and Engineering Services Provider during the Construction phase of the KBESS2 project for Synergy, and as part of the Synergy-GHD IPMT, we provided comprehensive services to facilitate the project's successful execution, including:

• Project management
• Support for the environmental and regulatory approvals for the project
• Engineering management and design
• Preparation and compilation of engineering and design documentation to meet the KBESS2 procurement strategy
• Procurement activities, encompassing logistics and inspections of major equipment
• Contract management
• Construction management
• Collaboration with contractors for the pre-commissioning of facilities and coordination of commissioning and start-up activities
• Implementation of robust project controls and reporting mechanisms
• Assurance of project integrity and compliance including management of project quality standards
• Document control to ensure accuracy and accessibility of project-related documentation
• Comprehensive risk management throughout the project lifecycle

Our strong alignment with Synergy enabled us to act as delivery partners and effectively transform the execution of this time-critical project into a success.

The KBESS2 project forms part of Synergy's decarbonisation plan for the replacement of coal fired power generation with renewable energy generation and storage. The project is set to deploy approximately 288 battery modules, each equivalent in size to a shipping container, alongside 72 cutting-edge inverter units.

KBESS2 will provide grid stability on the SWIS by absorbing excess solar power during the day and releasing it in the evening during periods of high demand, and by charging and discharging energy rapidly to help dampen minute-by-minute fluctuations in renewable electricity.

Scheduled to be operational in late 2024, KBESS2 will provide up to 200MW of power and around 800MWh of energy storage – double the power and quadruple the storage of its predecessor, KBESS1. To facilitate effective monitoring and management of operations, a new facility control and monitoring system will be installed, overseeing charge/discharge dispatch activities.

The KBESS2 project is critical in supporting the State Government's emissions reduction targets. As the SWIS needs multiple battery energy storage solutions to support the retirement of Synergy's coal-fired power stations, the integration of this substantial battery storage capacity into the grid is imperative to facilitate the connection of large-scale renewable generation assets to the network.

Learn more about our work on the Kwinana Battery Energy Storage System Stage 1 project.