Increase energy system reliability and resilience, reduce emissions and drive cost-effectiveness by accelerating a dedicated program of energy storage, microgrids, virtual power plants and standalone power systems The program should include:
- providing appropriate coordination and allocating funding
- identifying feasible locations across the state
- investigating future energy storage options, including hydrogen, pumped hydro, batteries and other energy storage technologies.
The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 45 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.
Actions:
45.61 Deliver the Standalone Power System program by Horizon Power and Western Power
45.62 Continue to implement the Energy Transformation Strategy (ETS), which includes review and reform of regulations to provide the framework for, and drive targeted investment in, system reliability and security
45.63 Continue to implement the Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Roadmap, which includes investigation into the development and delivery of virtual power plans in the SWIS
3/3 actions on schedule
45.61 On schedule
Western Power has installed 210 SPS with another 261 scheduled to commence deployment in 2024-25. Scoping work and customer recruitment for further units is underway.
Horizon Power is on track to install 150 units by the end of 2025 with approximately 80 units installed mainly in the Goldfields-Esperance region.
45.62 On schedule
Energy Policy WA (EPWA) has progressed amendments to the Electricity Industry Act 2004 through the Electricity Industry Amendment (Distributed Energy Resources) Act 2024 (DER Act); and the Electricity Industry Amendment (Alternative Electricity Services) Act 2024. EPWA continues to progress reform to the Wholesale Electricity Market through various reviews, including the Reserve Capacity Mechanism Review, Cost Allocation Review, and Demand Side Response Review.
45.63 On schedule
The final report and recommendations of the Project Symphony Virtual Power Plan pilot was published in June 2024. Planning has commenced for a project that applies the learnings from Project Symphony at scale. The next DER Roadmap progress report will contain updates on each action, as well as new, revised actions based on the outcomes of the Project Symphony pilot.