Kwinana Battery Energy Storage System 1 (KBESS1) is first transmission connected battery energy storge system in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS). It is being developed to help manage stability in the grid and ensure reliable and effective power supply to the wider region.

The project was developed by our SynergyRED team and is being delivered by Synergy’s Future Energy team, with funding provided by the State and Federal Governments  

Location

KBESS1 and its associated substation are located at the existing Kwinana Power Station site, which has been undergoing decommissioning since 2016.

This site is located within the suburb of Naval Base on the Swan Coastal Plain, approximately 30km southwest of the Perth central business district, 17km south of Fremantle and 5.5km northwest of the Kwinana town centre.

The site is located within one WA’s most important industrial areas. The land is comprised within the local government districts of Cockburn, Kwinana and Rockingham within the Kwinana Strategic Industrial Area.

KBESS1 connects to the 330kV Western Power transmission system via existing infrastructure at the site and a new 330/33kV substation.

Layout and size

The BESS layout for KBESS1 sits across a space of around 103m in length and 123m in width. It contains a number of separate, modularised batteries which are designed to help enhance stability and security of the network, to reduce the risk of electricity supply interruptions.

KBESS1 is approximately the size of 14 tennis courts and has a generating capacity of 100MW/200MWh, which makes it capable of powering up to 160,000 average homes in WA for approximately two hours.

Progress

KBESS1 was successfully commissioned in mid-2023. It is currently playing a significant role in maintaining energy security in WA's South West Interconnected System (SWIS).

Key project dates

Frequently Asked Questions

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