South West coal town tipped to host Australia’s biggest green-energy battery

The South West town of Collie, which has been the lifeblood of WA’s coal-powered electricity needs for generations, has been tipped to host the biggest renewable-energy battery in Australia, again putting the town at the forefront of the green energy revolution.

Up to $1 million has been committed for the first stage of a feasibility study into the Collie Battery and Hydrogen Industrial Hub Project.

A 600 to 800-megawatt hour battery would be a key feature of the hub, set to be four times the size of Tesla’s big battery in South Australia.

Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan and Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns announced the State Government pledge at a forum in the town on Friday morning, naming eminent energy expert Ross Garnaut as the chair to lead the study through his green-energy think tank Sunshot Energy.

The group will assess the economic case for establishing a hydrogen electrolyser — powered by renewable energy — which could also create green ammonia and urea biproducts for agricultural and industrial application.

The Collie battery would provide renewable energy to the diverse new and existing industrial projects in the Collie Shire.

The hub project is tipped to create $730 million worth of new investment in green industries and decarbonisation initiatives, while creating 500 new jobs during the construction phase, plus an additional 400 ongoing jobs for the region.

“It makes sense for Collie, which is at the heart of the South West energy system, to become a renewable energy industrial hub as we transition away from the coal industry,” Ms MacTiernan said.

Ms Hanns said the project was another way to diversify industries in Collie and keep energy sector jobs in the region, while aligning with the town’s Just Transition Plan.

“The renewable energy hub could also help to attract new industries to set up in Collie including processing of critical minerals,” Ms Hanns said.