Pacific Energy has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Horizon Power to deliver clean energy to Exmouth, a town in Western Australia's Gascoyne region.
The agreement marks the first stage of the Exmouth Power Project, which will provide the town with up to 80% renewable energy annually. The project includes a 9.6MW solar farm, 49.6MWh of battery energy storage (BESS), and a 7MW gas power station.
Pacific Energy's Chief Operating Officer, Mike Hall, highlighted the importance of the community's role in driving the project, stating, “This outcome really has been driven by the Exmouth community's desire for a clean energy solution that will help them protect their UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Horizon Power's commitment to delivering cleaner energy solutions to WA's regional areas.” He also emphasized the company's focus on reducing gas reliance by integrating solar energy and battery storage technologies into the town's power system.
The hybrid system, featuring a BESS, will ensure Exmouth is powered by renewable energy even when solar production is not possible. Exmouth's location in a cyclonic wind region ruled out wind power as an option, making solar and battery storage the key components of the project.
The system is expected to offset approximately 14,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually over the 20-year term of the PPA.
Hall noted the significance of the project for Australia's broader energy transition, stating, “This is another important project for Australia's energy transition, because it demonstrates what can be achieved when we set ambitious targets that align with community expectations.” The project is set to begin integrating renewables in early 2025 and is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026.
