Western Australia Faces Wind Energy Capacity Challenges Ahead of Coal Phase-Out

In light of Western Australia’s (WA) ambitious plan to phase out coal-fired power by 2030, concerns have emerged regarding the readiness of wind energy projects to fill the impending energy gap. Wind developers have raised alarms over the potential delays in project completion, attributing these issues to prolonged approval processes and insufficient transmission infrastructure.

The WA government has set a firm deadline to cease coal operations, which has led to a reliance on onshore wind energy as a critical component of the state's future electricity mix. Key projects like the Marradong Wind Farm, situated near Boddington, highlight these challenges. This 300-megawatt project, a collaboration between Wind with Purpose and Quenda Wind Power, has yet to finalize investment decisions and construction schedules, raising questions about its operational timeline in relation to the coal phase-out deadline.

Daniel Kurz, the head of business development at Quenda, characterized the development of wind farms as a complex process, stating that, "A development process for a wind farm is not a sprint; it's definitely a marathon." He emphasized the urgency of meeting the 2030 target, but acknowledged, "If we don’t hit our targets for getting this project online, coal-fired power plants may have to stay online a few years longer than planned."

Chris Kearney, CEO of Wind with Purpose, echoed these sentiments, indicating that while the Marradong project is on track for a 2029 operational date, "there is not much wiggle room". He noted that the dependability of coal generation may extend if the necessary infrastructure isn’t established on time.

The Marradong Wind Farm plans to utilize existing power infrastructure; however, other projects, such as the RES Australia wind farm, depend on significant upgrades to the transmission network, which is still in the consultation and assessment phase. Greg Wilkinson, Development Director at RES Australia, stated that while construction on their wind farm could potentially start by 2028, it is contingent on timely upgrades to transmission lines by Western Power.

Chris O’Keefe from the Clean Energy Council emphasized the urgency for the government to expand transmission capabilities, saying, "The WA government needs to build 250 kilometers of new transmission lines. Otherwise, we might have a situation where we’re generating two or three gigawatts of onshore wind, yet there’s not enough transmission to get it to the places where it needs to go."

The WA government has committed $584.3 million in its latest budget for network upgrades and expansion of the Clean Energy Link, with plans to establish local transmission manufacturing hubs. Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson affirmed that the government does not solely rely on an offshore wind project and insists that onshore wind energy will play a crucial role as WA transitions away from coal.

Despite the government’s assurances, industry leaders remain cautious. O’Keefe warned that the current pace of infrastructure development may not align with the 2030 transition target. He stressed, "They need to crack on with that if that 2030 target is to be met."

As Western Australia navigates this critical transition, the interplay of development timelines, infrastructure readiness, and energy policy will determine the success of its renewable energy strategy and the reliability of its power supply as coal generation winds down.