The Shadow Minister for Energy Dr Steve Thomas says the Premier’s release of a renewable energy and critical minerals prospectus today will not help the State’s renewable energy transition because there are already more proposed projects in WA than the state can fit into the grid, most of which cannot proceed without a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) from the State Government.
“There is no point asking more companies to come to Western Australia to propose more renewable energy projects without identifying how much electricity we need and where it needs to be generated” Dr Thomas said.
“There are companies out there already that cannot get a Power Purchase Agreement from Synergy or the State Government, but the Government apparently wants to invite more proponents to jump on to the waiting list.
“Without a Power Purchase Agreement or a separate private sale, you have no market for the energy you plan to produce and your project cannot proceed.
“We are waiting for the Government to deliver the roadmap for the energy transition, which was originally called the Whole of System Plan or WoSP, but the Government failed to deliver it on time a year ago.
“They were so embarrassed they rebranded it as the Future Energy System Outlook or FESO, but the plan for transition is still a year away from being delivered.
“There doesn’t seem to be much point in calling for more companies to come to WA where there is no plan in place and too many proposals already waiting in line for a contract from the Government to sell their power.”
