Local utility seeks green light to replace remote town’s diesel and gas power with a solar-battery hybrid

Horizon Power is asking the federal government to green light its latest renewable energy upgrade in the north of the state, this time a battery, solar and has project for Halls Creek. 

The project, which is one of Horizon’s Future Energy System regional decarbonisation initiatives, will replace diesel generators and an EDL-owned gas power station with up to 4 megawatts (MW) of solar, a 2 MW, 2 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery, and a new gas power station of up 4 MW. 

“Many towns in the Kimberley are powered by high emission fossil fuels such as diesel and gas. In Halls Creek, Horizon Power currently purchases power from an independent power producer,” the federal EPBC referral says.

“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 has been planning for the change over for years, calling for expressions of interest in 2024 for suppliers to five towns in the north of the state. 

At the time, it wanted proposals for Halls Creek that contained a minimum of 55 per cent renewable energy. 

Horizon has shortlisted four suppliers, the company says on its website. 

Since then, it’s slowly been working through the planning process for the five towns making up the Future Energy System scheme, with Derby and Broome well underway.  

Halls Creek, the newest project to get underway with the EPBC, will be built about 3 km south-west of the town with a new 3km underground network connection to the existing power station. 

The new thermal power station would be built next to the site of the existing power station as well. 

The solar and battery part of the project is proposed for a patch of land the Horizon says is “relatively undisturbed and in Excellent condition, with a minor access track evident.”

It will need to clear 11.37 hectares, and according to the EPBC referral might directly impact on 16 different threatened birds, one bat, one breed of bilby, one species of possum, and three reptiles. 

The referral specifically looks at the Gouldian Finch, Northern Bluetongue Skink, Ghost Bat and Grey Falcon, but says the project shouldn’t be a controlled action under the EPBC.

“All four species are highly mobile and expected to disperse into alternative habitat. No significant or unique habitat features are available within the development envelope that do not occur in the surrounding region,” it says.

“Particular focus has been placed on reducing the amount of fauna habitat clearing required for construction, particularly habitat for Gouldian Finch, which is abundant around Halls Creek and was present at all sites surveyed during site selection.”