Question On Notice No. 6347 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 11 August 2020 by Mr D.T. Redman
Question Directed to the: Minister for Energy
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to the recently announced $66.3m toward “renewable energy technologies” as a boost to the WA recovery, and ask:
(a) Can the Minister outline the source of the funds: in particular whether
it is Royalties for Regions, consolidated funds or funds from a government trading enterprise (GTE) (eg
Horizon/Western Power balance sheet);
(b) Can the Minister identify, what if any of the $66.3m of funded
initiatives were budgeted in the 2019-2020 state budget (including GTE
internal budgets) to be expended over the forward estimates 2019-2020 to
2022-2023;
(c) If there were initiatives budgeted, can the Minister describe the
procurement process (including key dates) where projects were tendered
to the private sector;
(d) With reference to the 50 stand-alone power systems (SPS) and Battery
Energy Storage Systems (BESS), can the Minister outline when the
contracts were/are being let;
(e) If the contracts for the SPS and the BESS have been awarded: who
has won the contract/s, when were they issued the advice they were
successful, and what is the nature of the battery technology being used;
(f) If all/some of the project funds were budgeted in the 2019-2020 state
budget, can the Minister outline the forward estimate projections of
expenditure of the $66.3m; and
(g) Other than the remote community expenditure, can the Minister outline
the allocation of the regional components of the remaining funds?
Answered on 15 September 2020
(a)
- Horizon Power (Standalone Power Systems and Battery Energy Storage Systems):
- $44.5 million – borrowings.
- Synergy (Solar Panels on Social Housing and Schools Virtual Power Plants):
- $10 million – appropriation.
- Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (Clean Energy Futures Fund):
- $10 million – appropriation.
- Public Transport Authority (Solar Panels on up to 60 rail and bus stations):
- $1.8 million – appropriation.
- None of this funding is from Royalties for Regions.
(b) None of the projects were budgeted as a part of the 2019-20 State Budget process.
(c) Not applicable, please see response to (b).
(d)
- 50 Standalone Power Systems (SPS):
- Horizon Power has ordered 20 SPS from CPS National under an existing supply arrangement. CPS National was selected as Horizon Power’s preferred SPS provider in an open procurement process in 2018.
- Horizon Power is examining its procurement strategy for the remaining 30 SPS and will make a decision later in the year.
- 9 Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS):
- Horizon Power is establishing a procurement strategy for each of the proposed towns.
- As the power supply arrangements (e.g. an independent power producer is responsible for supplying power) are different between towns, contracts for each individual town will be issued by Horizon Power progressively over the next few months, with a focus on enabling local spend and local contracting opportunities.
(e) Not applicable, please see response to (d).
(f) Not applicable, please see response to (b).
(g)
- 50 Standalone Power Systems and 9 Battery Energy Storage Systems:
- Horizon Power has demonstrated experience in dividing tranches of work, including civil engineering works vegetation management and operation and maintenance, amongst regional providers to maximise the use of local suppliers, create local jobs and support opportunities which help build thriving communities.
- Clean Energy Future Fund (CEFF):
- CEFF takes applications from all over Western Australia.
- Solar Panels on Social Housing:
- Targeting 30 per cent of system installations to be in regional areas, depending on suitability of Department of Communities housing stock.
- School Virtual Power Plants:
- Synergy anticipates 10% regional component.