Western Australia takes bold step towards solar and battery

Building grid resilience while moving beyond coal

Marking the third large-scale BESS development in the region, the project will help to shift the state away from a coal-dependent economy to a future driven by renewable energy.

A flagship project for a changing Western Australia

The Enpowered Collie project integrates a 200MW BESS with a 66MW solar farm to deliver clean, reliable power around the clock. It will feed electricity into the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), connecting to the grid via an underground transmission line to Western Power’s Palmer Terminal.

We were contracted by Enpowered, a subsidiary of Hesperia, to provide engineering and consulting services, bringing deep technical expertise to guide key design decisions and maintaining a strong focus on environmental and social outcomes. The client needed a compelling concept design to secure development approval and ensure alignment with regulatory expectations.

From coal heritage to clean energy future

Coal mines have powered Western Australia for over a century. However, with the state government committed to phasing out coal-fired power by the end of the decade, the region is undergoing a major transformation.

The 340MW Collie Power Station is scheduled to close in October 2027, followed by the 854MW Muja Power Station in 2029. In their place, the state is investing billions in renewable energy infrastructure, creating hundreds of jobs in construction, operations, and decommissioning, and laying the foundation for a cleaner, more resilient energy future.

Partnering to deliver smarter, cleaner design

As owner’s engineer, we supported Enpowered from concept through to commercial readiness, drawing on our deep experience in high-voltage transmission and renewable energy integration.

Our contributions included:

• Engineering and consulting services
• Basis of Design documentation
• Concept design to secure development approval
• Detailed cost estimates across all major components
• General arrangement drawings for transmission, substation, BESS, and solar farm
• Construction traffic and logistics planning
• Operations and maintenance strategies
• Constructability, operability, and maintainability planning
• Alignment with Western Power’s grid connection requirements and critical project determination

We also introduced innovative design solutions, such as elevated photovoltaic arrays that enable sheep grazing beneath the panels, allowing the site to retain limited agricultural activities while generating clean energy.

Delivering lasting benefits for communities and the grid

Expected to commence operations in 2028, the Enpowered Collie project will play a vital role in stabilising the state’s grid, reducing carbon emissions, and accelerating Western Australia’s clean energy transition.

Enpowered Collie is part of our growing portfolio of high-impact projects, including Kincraig BESS (SA), Paterson BESS (WA), and Quenda Power (Sumitomo), where we’re delivering technical excellence and shaping the future of clean energy.