Trina Solar Proposes 400 MW Solar Battery Hybrid Project in Western Australia
Trina Solar, a leading Chinese solar photovoltaic company, has announced plans for a significant solar hybrid project featuring a 400 MW solar farm combined with a 1,600 MWh battery storage facility. This initiative aims to meet the growing industrial and electrification demands in the region.
The Killawarra project is set to be located near Kadathinni, a small town approximately 300 kilometres north of Perth. It will connect to the north-south 330kW transmission line that traverses the property, allowing for efficient energy distribution. The estimated budget for this ambitious project stands at $700 million, as per state planning documents.
Targeting Industrial Growth
Trina Solar’s rationale for this substantial battery proposal highlights the company’s interest in Western Australia, where it anticipates a surge in industrial activity. The company projects that around 1.8 gigawatts (GW) of new load will emerge in the coming years, driven by the state’s expanding green industry and electrification efforts.
The Western Australian government’s demand assessment for 2023-2042 indicates that the influx of new loads could necessitate the construction of 50 gigawatts of additional capacity on what is recognised as the world’s largest isolated grid. Trina’s project is poised to be among the first to capitalise on this expected demand, although several other large battery projects are already underway in the state, aimed at shifting excess solar energy to meet evening peak demands.
Leading the Charge in Battery Storage
Western Australia is home to the largest solar-battery hybrid project located in Cunderdin. These hybrid systems share a connection point, enabling solar energy to be directly fed into the battery for storage, thus avoiding grid constraints and ensuring a reliable power supply during peak times.
Big battery installations are already making a significant impact on the state’s energy landscape, with their output share peaking at 9.4 per cent over the past week.
In terms of scale, only three other battery projects in Western Australia surpass the Killawarra proposal, one of which is also developed by Trina Solar. The Kemerton Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), located in an industrial area south of Perth, boasts a capacity of 660 MW and 2,640 MWh, having swiftly navigated the development approval process in just four months last year. Trina Solar anticipates that this facility will be operational by 2026.
Additionally, the final phase of Neoen’s Collie BESS, which has a capacity of 560 MW and 2,240 MWh, is expected to commence later this year. Synergy’s CBESS, also situated in Collie, is set to provide 500 MW and 2,000 MWh of storage, with plans to be operational by next summer.
Further south of Perth, Ace Power is proposing a 150 MW battery with a four-hour capacity (600 MWh), estimated to cost around $212 million. This project is currently seeking planning approval for a site near Western Power’s Pinjarra substation, with the development application open for public consultation.
This will mark Ace Power’s first standalone battery project in the state, following their earlier efforts with the Narrogin BESS and accompanying solar farm, which represented their initial venture into solar and battery technology in Western Australia.
