WA Govt backs up Goldfields power supply

WA’s Cook government has secured a back-up power supply for the state’s Goldfields region, which includes Kalgoorlie-Boulder — a town that has suffered serious blackouts for more than a decade. One of the worst incidents occurred in January this year, when residents were left without power for several days in soaring high 40s temperatures.

The government has sourced the back-up generation from global renewable energy company TransAlta, as a result of BHP Nickel West temporarily suspending its operations in the area. TransAlta was commissioned by BHP in 2021 to provide a large-scale solar farm and battery solution for the Nickel West site.

Energy Minister Reece Whitby said the announcement was a big win for the Goldfields, and thanked BHP for making surplus power from Nickel West available while its operations were temporarily suspended.

“I want all Western Australians to have access to reliable energy,” Whitby said.

“This arrangement with TransAlta is an effective way of providing significantly more security to Kalgoorlie families as we continue to seek additional, permanent back-up generation for the Goldfields.”

The agreement followed months of negotiations between the WA Government and energy producers in the Goldfields. This backup generation will help to tide the area over until the government secures a commitment for more generation that is expected to be available from as early as 2026.

In the lead-up to the arrangement with TransAlta, the government improved its operations and protocols for the 220-kilovolt line servicing Kalgoorlie and the West Kalgoorlie Power Station, including:

• sending additional maintenance staff and hiring a local contractor so there is immediate support if there is a disruption to the city’s power supply;
• modernising the control system and communications capability at West Kalgoorlie Power Station, including installing a Starlink satellite communication system;
• upgrading the power station’s battery charging and black start capability;
• undertaking additional aerial inspections of the 220 kV line;
• improving network operational and dispatch protocols in the event of an outage;
• updating settings to improve the network’s stability in the event it must be islanded.
   

The government said these actions build on a range of investments made by Western Power since 2021, with nearly $130 million invested in local network infrastructure and technology, including new static synchronous compensators, transformers and reactors at West Kalgoorlie Power Station, and additional transformers at the West Kalgoorlie and Black Flag substations.

To secure the Goldfields’ long-term power reliability, the state government commenced early discussions this month with governments, industry and Traditional Owners on a proposed Goldfields Regional Network. That network could provide for common-user infrastructure in the region that will allow households and industry access to secure sources of renewable energy.

“The Cook government is taking reliability for Kalgoorlie seriously — dedicating serious resources across multiple agencies to make effective and lasting improvements now and into the future,” Whitby said.

Image credit: iStock.com/delectus