$400m Kemerton battery storage project given planning approval by Regional Development Assessment Panel

A $400 million battery storage system has been given planning approval for a development in the Kemerton area. The project dubbed the Kermerton Battery Energy Storage System by Trina Solar, went before the Regional Development Assessment Panel at the beginning of December for consideration and was unanimously approved with a number of conditions. According to development plans, the project would consist of 800 battery cabinets and 200 inverter units giving a total capacity of 2640MWh by using four-hour duration lithium-ion batteries, connected to the South West Interconnected System. The project was proposed to be built within the Kemerton Strategic Industrial Area on a section of a Runnymede Road lot previously used for sand mining. It is expected construction of the battery system will commence in mid-2026 and take up to 24 months to complete. Once constructed it is expected eight full-time staff would be on site monitoring the system and undertaking any necessary maintenance and repairs. The proponents anticipate it would operate for 20 years and then be reviewed as to whether it be renewed or decommissioned. An environmental assessment report undertaken by Western Environmental Approvals predicts the proposal would result in the loss of 2.6ha of native vegetation. This includes 2.6ha of lost habitat loss for the western ringtail possum and 2.2ha of lost habitat for threatened black cockatoo species. One of the conditions by RDAP stipulates an amended plan addressing the vegetation loss must be submitted to and approved by the Shire of Harvey. The plan will need to address the realignment of the proposed transmission lines to minimise the impact on conservation category wetland and minimise clearing of native vegetation