WA Energy Transition Secures $500M Budget Increase

  • $502 million for WA's cleaner, affordable and reliable energy future
  • $324 million to support expansion of the State's main electricity network to drive industry growth and clean energy
  • $147.6 million to develop common user electricity network infrastructure in the Pilbara
  • Brings total WA Labor Government energy transition investment to more than $5.4 billion

Western Australia's energy transition is surging ahead under the Cook Labor Government, with the 2024-25 State Budget injecting $500 million towards a cleaner, affordable and reliable energy future for WA.

The new funding includes a further $324 million investment into the State's main electricity network to enable industry to expand and unlock job-creating renewable energy projects.

The investment will fund Western Power to continue assessing and developing potential Clean Energy Link transmission projects, including the procurement of long-lead items.

Clean Energy Link transmission projects have been identified to meet renewable generation demand for WA's future, expanding the South West Interconnected System in the central, south, and northern sections.

This investment builds on the more than $4 billion committed over the past 12 months to unlocking WA's cleaner, affordable and reliable energy future through investment in wind generation, battery systems and the electricity grid.

The Cook Government has also allocated $147.6 million to support the development of common user network infrastructure in the North West Interconnected System and open up new opportunities for clean energy, subject to Traditional Owner negotiations.

Other new investments include:

  • $18.4 million for the deployment of 50 Standalone Power Systems in Esperance and the Mid West;
  • $7.5 million to fund rebuilding the Blackstone remote community's power station; and
  • $4.5 million to buy existing power station assets in Ardyaloon, Bidyadanga, Beagle Bay, Djarindjin Lombadina and Warmun.

The additional investments in the 2024-25 Budget bring the total investment by the WA Labor Government into the energy transition to more than $5.4 billion since 2017, including new generation, transmission and storage.

For more information, visit ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au.

As stated by Premier Roger Cook:

"The energy transition is the biggest economic transformation in decades, and my Government is grasping the opportunity with both hands.

"Investing in our electricity grid will unlock major job-creating clean energy projects that will set up our State and our economy for the long term.

"By investing in the energy transition, we're locking in a cleaner, affordable and reliable energy future for WA, while helping our trading partners reach their net zero goals."

As stated by Energy Minister Reece Whitby:

"I'm committed to seeing WA become a renewable energy powerhouse.

"This investment will support the investigation, consultation and planning needed to ensure our State can reap the benefits and economic opportunities of the global energy transition."

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