Kwinana Battery Energy Storage System Stage 1
At a glance
The Kwinana Battery Energy Storage System is a 100MW installation with a generation capacity of 200MWh. By soaking up excess energy when demand is low and discharging it into the system when demand increases, it optimises existing power generation assets and provides greater stability to Western Australia's electrical grid.
The challenge
The growing adoption of rooftop solar systems in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) means increased electricity flows into the network from residential homes, reducing demand for electricity produced by power stations. In certain circumstances, such as hot days with high electricity demand or high renewable penetration, system stability is challenged.
Synergy engaged us to help them deliver the Kwinana Battery Energy Storage System Stage 1 (KBESS1) project to improve system stability and management of the electricity network. The aim of KBESS1 is to soak up excess energy when demand is low during the day, storing it, and then discharging it into the system when demand increases in the afternoon and evening.
The KBESS1 project is a 100MW installation with a generation capacity of 200MWh. This enables it to power around 160,000 average homes in Western Australia for about two hours. The installation is constructed at Synergy's partially decommissioned and rehabilitated Kwinana Power Station site.
KBESS1 will enable Synergy to optimise the use of existing generation assets and also provide greater stability to Western Australia's electrical grid.
Our response
The project included the construction of a 330kV substation including two 330/33kV 250MVA transformers, two 33kV switchrooms and dual 330kV circuits connecting into the existing Kwinana Terminal.
We provided extensive owner’s engineering services to support the delivery of the project including:
- Early works support regulatory approvals advice
- FMECA and criticality analysis
- Full time site representation
- Detailed design review of contractor documentation and deliverables to enable a fully operational 100MW/200MWh BESS
- Construction verification and witnessing
- Construction management
- Weekly and monthly construction reports
- Milestone claim verification
- Dangerous goods advice
- Geotechnical support
- Management and environmental testing of a soil screening facility to reuse excavated soil
- Site inspections in preparation for contractor mobilisation
- Stormwater design
- Contract support
As part of our role, we also looked at the impact of a thermal runaway event and the infrastructure and processes required to safely manage such a contingency event. Synergy engaged our Dangerous Goods team to assess the potential outcomes of a battery fire to inform design modifications intended to limit the environmental, social and technical consequences of a thermal runaway event. The report also informed the risk associated with a battery fire which resulted in the installation of an impermeable firewater containment system.
The impact
Now in operation, this project and its application of rapidly evolving storage technology, has set a benchmark for safety-in-design and meeting Western Australian regulatory requirements.
KBESS1 is a transformative piece of infrastructure for commencing the transition to higher renewable energy penetration and achieving the interim 2030 emissions reduction targets set by the State Government.
Having played a key role in the development of KBESS1 as Owners Engineer, we continue to support Synergy in the planning and delivery of the Kwinana Battery Energy Storage System Stage 2 (KBESS2) project.