Another remote W.A. town in line for renewables revamp with solar-battery plan

Derby is the latest remote Western Australian town scheduled to undergo an electricity renovation, with regional provider Horizon Power sending its plans for the Kimberley town to the federal environmental queue. 

The proposal is for a 21 megawatt (MW) solar farm, an up-to 10 MW/55 MWh battery energy storage system and a 8 MW thermal power station, all connected with a new transmission line set to run down the main street of town.

The “Future Energy System” or FES, as Horizon Power has dubbed the renewable energy component, will be hosted on one of two sites within 5km of the town: if it’s the closer site, the solar component will be smaller but if it’s the slightly more distant site Horizon wants to install the full 21 MW.

The EPBC referral is required because Horizon will need to clear up to 73.5 hectares of native vegetation and remove the topsoil.  

The whole project is expected to start operations in 2029.

Wind was also considered for the town, but the higher cost, poor wind resource and the structural challenges of building for cyclones meant that was ruled out.

Horizon Power says the renewable energy element could reduce emissions for the town by up to 12,060 tonnes of CO2e a year.

“Many towns in the Kimberley are powered by high emission fossil fuels such as diesel and gas,” Horizon Power said in its referral to the EPBC.

“In Derby, Horizon Power currently purchases power from an independent power producer. The power purchase agreement (PPA) is due to expire, providing Horizon Power with an opportunity to integrate grid-scale renewable electricity into the town supply.”

Horizon Power might have been able to avoid building most of the package it’s building in Derby, had the backers of an experimental tidal power project managed to convince governments.

The $375 million Derby Tidal Project stalled in 2023, after plans to turn what is one of the world’s biggest tides into electricity fell apart due to government delays.  It was supposed to be installed at nearby Doctor’s Creek. The idea was to use the 11 metre tides to generate up to 40 MW for 120 years. 

But state and federal government concerns about the environmental uncertainties surrounding the project – not to mention questions over its commercial viability – meant it never got close to getting off the ground. 

No more diesel, please

Derby is one of five towns targeted by Horizon Power for getting off expensive thermal power stations. 

The regional power provider is also building medium-sized renewable energy projects with thermal power station support in Broome, Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing, and Camballin/Looma.

Broome is also currently going through the local EPA process for a 90MW solar system and a 42MW BESS which will live 10km outside the town and be connected by a new transmission line.

The “potential” environmental effects include damage to flora and fauna through clearing of 241 hectares of native vegetation, and changed inland water courses, Horizon said in its submission to the WA EPA. 

The regional power provider issued a tender in mid-2024 for system suppliers, and explicitly ruled out any fossil fuel-only proposals. 

Horizon has minimum annual renewable energy requirements for each town with the biggest, Broome and Derby, being more than 80 per cent while the smallest energy user Camballin/Looma must have at least 44 per cent renewable supply. 

Fitzroy Crossing residents must have access to at least 45 per cent, and at Halls Creek the minimum is 55 per cent renewables.

The shift to renewables for the five towns is part of Horizon Power’s mission to reduce the costs it has to pay in transporting and supplying diesel in particular, to regional sites across Western Australia.