Alinta Energy’s $500 million Wagerup storage battery given the go ahead from Development Assessment Panel

Planning approval has been given for the construction of a $500 million battery at the Wagerup industrial area.

Alinta Energy’s plans to construct a second storage battery at Wagerup were given approval last week after going to review by the Metro Outer Joint Development Assessment Panel.

Once built, the battery will capture and store excess renewable energy. It will be capable of holding 300MW of power which can be later released into the South West Interconnected System.

The battery is set to be built next to Alinta’s gas power station near Alcoa’s Wagerup refinery.

Despite Alcoa being the state’s biggest energy user, the battery is intended to contribute to the South West Interconnected System primarily.

The approved plans require the removal of 16 mature trees but a particular jarrah known as the Wagerup scar tree will be preserved due to its cultural significance.

Alinta will provide the Shire of Waroona a cash-in-lieu contribution for the destruction of the trees that can be used for replanting works elsewhere to achieve a net gain.

During the review, shire president Mike Walmsley said the council was excited for the large scale development.

“There are other developments around renewable energy that have been approved within our shire and I think this fits in very well to the energy storage,” he said.

He said as technology continued to advance it could be difficult to comprehend the final project, but believed Alinta would do a “good job”.