While the Western Australian energy landscape continues to evolve, Tonic Group has secured rapid federal approval for its substantial 440MWh solar-battery project. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) issued its determination in under a month—just 29 days after submission. Must be some kind of record. Most environmental approvals move slower than a tortoise with a hangover.
Located 130km south of Perth in the Shire of Harvey, this 75MW solar photovoltaic power plant comes paired with a hefty 55MW/440MWh battery energy storage system. The facility will cover a 12.46-hectare disturbance footprint of the overall site. That’s right, an 8-hour duration battery system. The rapid approval was granted after officials deemed the project required no controlled action under the EPBC Act. The project sits within the Kemerton Strategic Industrial Area Structure Plan, a state priority zone where the government actually wants development to happen. Imagine that.
The future of Western Australian energy isn’t just big—it’s 8-hour battery big in a zone where progress is actually welcome.
Environmental surveys revealed the 88.38-hectare site is mostly cleared land anyway—70.52 hectares of paddock with just 7.08 hectares of native vegetation remaining. The project will impact minimal wildlife habitat: 1.14 hectares of foraging ground for endangered black cockatoos and a mere 0.56 hectares of critically endangered western ringtail possum habitat. They’re preserving most of what’s worth saving.
The facility isn’t just batteries and solar panels. It’s getting ten EV charging bays and two 12×6-metre office buildings. They’re using pile driving techniques to minimize soil disturbance. Smart. This approach reflects growing industry awareness that solar farms can cause habitat loss if not carefully planned and sited.
Perhaps the most significant aspect? The power purchase agreement with Green Steel of WA. Tonic Renewables will supply up to 134,000 MWh annually to Australia’s first new steel mill in over three decades. Two Western Australian-owned companies working together. Revolutionary concept.
This rapid approval demonstrates that renewable projects can actually move forward when they’re properly planned. The facility will feed power to industrial projects and regional EV charging services, contributing significant battery capacity to Australia’s grid-scale storage pipeline.
Bureaucracy doesn’t always have to move at a snail’s pace. Sometimes, just sometimes, the system works.
References
- https://www.energy-storage.news/tonic-group-bags-rapid-epbc-act-approval-for-440mwh-solar-plus-storage-site-in-western-australia/
- https://www.pv-tech.org/tonic-group-secures-fast-track-federal-approval-for-75mw-western-australia-solar-battery-project/
- https://www.indexbox.io/blog/tonic-groups-binningup-solar-facility-gets-federal-green-light/
- https://reneweconomy.com.au/hybrid-solar-and-eight-hour-battery-facility-with-ev-servo-gets-federal-green-light/amp/
- https://www.energy-storage.news/third-utility-scale-battery-storage-project-proposed-for-western-australias-collie/
- https://www.projectory.com.au/article/700m-renewable-energy-project-approved-in-was-mid-west-with-local-suppliers-invited-to-support-major-solar-and-battery-storage-development
- https://www.energy-storage.news/western-australias-era-proposes-au491700-mw-benchmark-price-driven-by-1200mwh-battery-storage-specifications/
- https://www.businessnews.com.au/article/South-West-solar-farm-gains-federal-government-approval
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJD6p4yoNNU
