Collie Approves Third Major Battery and Solar Project
A significant step has been taken in Collie, Western Australia, with the green light given for the construction of a 200 megawatt battery alongside a 66 megawatt solar farm. This development marks the addition of the third large-scale battery to the regional grid of the coal town.
The ambitious $500 million project, spearheaded by Enpowered for property developer Hesperia, received approval from a state development assessment panel on Wednesday, following a recommendation from the Shire of Collie earlier this month.
Details of the Project
The proposed battery energy storage system (BESS) will boast a capacity of 200 MW, although the specific storage duration has yet to be disclosed. It will be located directly across from Neoen’s Collie BESS, which currently holds the title of the largest battery in Australia, featuring a capacity of 560 MW and 2,240 megawatt-hours (MWh).
Additionally, to the south, another BESS is under construction adjacent to the Collie Power Station, developed by WA state-owned gentailer Synergy, which will have a total capacity of 500 MW and 2,000 MWh.
Community Concerns
The panel convened on Wednesday morning to deliberate on the merits of Hesperia’s solar and battery plans, hearing from a five-member group that included testimonies from three local property owners opposed to the project. The objectors raised various concerns, including fears of overdevelopment, potential incompatibility with the rural setting, negative impacts on views and the landscape, and general amenity degradation, particularly due to noise pollution.
Other objections highlighted issues such as fire hazards, potential declines in land values, pollution from heavy metals associated with the batteries, soil damage from solar installations, increased security risks during construction, and health concerns related to electromagnetic radiation.
Panel Decision and Conditions
Despite the objections, the panel ultimately approved the project with a vote of three to two. The dissenting votes came from the two members representing the Collie Shire Council, Cr Ian Miffling and Cr Joe Italiano.
The approval is contingent upon 13 conditions, which include the requirement for developers to submit a comprehensive landscaping plan to the Collie Shire Council. This plan must detail how the solar panels and BESS will be visually screened from neighbouring properties using a combination of earth bunds, shrubs, and trees.
Moreover, a detailed Construction Management Plan must be submitted and approved by the Shire of Collie, addressing various aspects such as public safety, noise control, vibration management, traffic and access management, as well as bushfire risk and emergency management strategies.
Noise Monitoring and Justification
The determination from the DAP also mandates that the developers implement a noise monitoring programme during the first year of operation for the solar and battery facility, providing an acoustics report to ensure compliance with the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations.
Clayton Higham, the presiding member of the Regional DAP, acknowledged the concerns raised by neighbouring landowners, particularly regarding the potential alteration of the character and outlook from their properties. However, he also noted that the applicant had presented compelling arguments supporting the suitability of solar and storage developments in rural areas, citing factors such as land availability, sunlight access, and the potential for co-location with agricultural activities.
Regarding bushfire risks, Higham stated that the majority of panel members were satisfied that these concerns had been adequately addressed. “The Bushfire Management Plan outlines several strategies to manage risks from both external bushfires and potential internal ignition, and the panel noted that the plan has been designed to cater for worst-case scenarios,” he explained.
Renew Economy is currently seeking additional comments from Hesperia and Enpowered regarding their plans for the Collie solar and battery project, as well as any future ambitions for large-scale renewable energy initiatives.
