- Synergy, Water Corporation to procure energy from major renewables projects
- Agreements unlock development of more than 1 gigawatt of onshore wind farms
- Projects to produce enough energy to power more than 800,000 homes each year
The Cook Government's energy transition has reached a major milestone, with government agreeing to buy power from soon-to-be-built wind farms in regional WA.
Once completed, the wind farms will produce enough energy to power more than 800,000 homes with clean, reliable and affordable renewable electricity each year.
Their combined capacity is greater than that of the State's remaining coal fired power stations.
As part of a series of long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Synergy has agreed to buy renewable energy from the following projects once commissioned:
- Parron Maam Marang Farm, a proposed 470-megawatt (MW) onshore wind farm to be owned and operated by Zephyr Energy - a partnership between Parron Developments and Atmos Renewables - which is expected to provide electricity by late-2028.
- Kondinin Wind Farm, a proposed 130MW onshore wind farm being developed by Kondinin Energy - a joint venture between Shell Energy and Foresight Group - which is expected to provide electricity by approximately late-2028.
In addition, Water Corporation will procure 330MW of electricity from the Marri Wind Farm once commissioned, a 550MW onshore wind farm developed by Alinta Energy and which is expected to produce electricity in 2029.
Together, these agreements will provide more than 1 gigawatt of electricity, exceeding our commitment to deliver 810 megawatts of wind generation to replace the State's coal fired power fleet.
With WA home to the two largest big batteries in the nation, this large-scale wind investment will help to generate clean, affordable and reliable energy for WA's future.
The announcement complements last year's signing of a PPA between Synergy and Bright Energy Investments for supply from Warradarge Wind Farm Stage 2.
The expanded development will be capable of meeting the annual electricity needs of 164,000 WA households and businesses when complete in 2027.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"There has never been a more important time to invest in Western Australia's energy transition.
"My government made the nation-leading decision to get out of State-owned coal by 2030, and this is an important step toward making that happen.
"By securing more affordable, reliable and clean energy while creating new jobs in construction, manufacturing and technology, my government can deliver its priority of diversifying our State's economy and making it a renewable energy powerhouse."
As stated by Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"These agreements are a massive step towards delivering the energy transition and establishing WA as a renewable energy powerhouse on a global scale.
"By signing these agreements, we are supporting job-creating renewable energy projects in regional WA that will help us get out of State-owned coal by 2030.
"Through our State-owned utilities, we are driving the transition to a renewable energy system - backed by storage and gas - to provide affordable, reliable, and cleaner power for Western Australians."
As stated by Water Minister Don Punch:
"By sourcing clean, renewable power from what will become the State's largest wind farm, we are ensuring essential desalination facilities operate in a way that is both responsible and sustainable.
"This partnership is a major step forward for Water Corporation's net-zero targets and demonstrates our government's commitment to delivering reliable, high-quality services across WA in a way that supports our transition to a lowcarbon future."
