The Kimberley Clean Energy Roadmap

The Vision

A future for the Kimberley region of Western Australia free from the shackles of fossil fuelled energy supply having adopted a leading, clean and dynamic renewable energy fuelled future for the benefit of the environment, peoples and land.

A future for the Kimberley region of Western Australia free from the shackles of fossil fuelled energy supply having adopted a leading, clean and dynamic renewable energy fuelled future for the benefit of the environment, peoples and land.

Key Findings

Currently, the Kimberley is powered by 94% fossil fuelled generation. This report found that transitioning to 60-90% Renewable Energy will result in savings of a minimum of $30 per Megawatt-hour (MWh).  

This visionary roadmap will deliver energy savings of more than $14.8 million per year for local Kimberley towns, communities, industry and the WA State Government, with $13.1 million alone in the Broome-Derby region.

A new sustainable workforce could also be created, if appropriate planning and training programs are rolled out, producing 184 direct long term jobs for the Kimberley region and State of WA, including local indigenous employment opportunities.

If this transition to a clean energy future is adopted, emissions of CO2 in the Kimberley would be reduced by at least 150,000 tonnes per annum – the equivalent of taking 25,000 petrol-powered cars off the roads each year.

Currently, the Kimberley is powered by 94% fossil fuelled generation. This report found that transitioning to 60-90% Renewable Energy will result in savings of a minimum of $30 per Megawatt-hour (MWh).  

This visionary roadmap will deliver energy savings of more than $14.8 million per year for local Kimberley towns, communities, industry and the WA State Government, with $13.1 million alone in the Broome-Derby region.

A new sustainable workforce could also be created, if appropriate planning and training programs are rolled out, producing 184 direct long term jobs for the Kimberley region and State of WA, including local indigenous employment opportunities.

If this transition to a clean energy future is adopted, emissions of CO2 in the Kimberley would be reduced by at least 150,000 tonnes per annum – the equivalent of taking 25,000 petrol-powered cars off the roads each year.

Opportunities

The Kimberley Clean Energy Roadmap provides the opportunity to act on renewable energy innovation and secure a safe climate future for WA, while saving millions on energy bills and helping to deliver the WA Government’s Plan for Jobs. There is a sound economic rationale for adopting this vision for a RE roadmap across the Kimberley. Meaningful consultation with Traditional Owners, the involvement of other local stakeholders, and the State Government Department of Communities and Horizon Power, will be crucial to its success. This research shows that significant amounts of surplus RE will be generated at some times. This energy could be used for new industry opportunities, such as to produce liquefied hydrogen fuel. A managed transition plan led by the WA government is key to maximising the benefits from implementing this RE roadmap. Such a plan would:

  • Build on Horizon Power’s plans for micro-grids in the region
  • Create a direct opportunity for the the WA Labor Government to deliver on their jobs plan
  • Provide investment certainty and economies of scale to reduce installation costs
  • Open up the potential for investment by indigenous communities or Native Title groups
  • Map out the creation of a new sustainable regional workforce, and provide training opportunities to boost local indigenous employment
  • Create a sustainable regional workforce
  • Reduce reliance on fossil fuels; such as gas and diesel energy

The Kimberley Clean Energy Roadmap provides the opportunity to act on renewable energy innovation and secure a safe climate future for WA, while saving millions on energy bills and helping to deliver the WA Government’s Plan for Jobs. There is a sound economic rationale for adopting this vision for a RE roadmap across the Kimberley. Meaningful consultation with Traditional Owners, the involvement of other local stakeholders, and the State Government Department of Communities and Horizon Power, will be crucial to its success. This research shows that significant amounts of surplus RE will be generated at some times. This energy could be used for new industry opportunities, such as to produce liquefied hydrogen fuel. A managed transition plan led by the WA government is key to maximising the benefits from implementing this RE roadmap. Such a plan would:

  • Build on Horizon Power’s plans for micro-grids in the region
  • Create a direct opportunity for the the WA Labor Government to deliver on their jobs plan
  • Provide investment certainty and economies of scale to reduce installation costs
  • Open up the potential for investment by indigenous communities or Native Title groups
  • Map out the creation of a new sustainable regional workforce, and provide training opportunities to boost local indigenous employment
  • Create a sustainable regional workforce
  • Reduce reliance on fossil fuels; such as gas and diesel energy

Recommendations

This pioneering research study and modelling demonstrates that the commitment to a RE future for the Kimberley will create a reliable, economically-favourable source of electricity for the future, reduce electricity costs for consumers, and create long-term jobs. Before implementation can commence, some technical and regulatory challenges need to be overcome. Achieving these changes requires clear political direction from the Western Australian Government. This report recommends that the WA Government:

  • Adopts the Kimberley Clean Energy Roadmap
  • Supports implementation of Horizon Power’s advanced microgrid roadmap
  • Develops a Kimberley Electricity Transition plan from this Roadmap
  • Updates policy settings to enable HP to facilitate a RE transition in the Kimberley (update generation rules, adopt microgrid standards, and enable an ongoing pipeline of RE installation, with associated economies of scale)
  • Conducts in-depth feasibility studies for the uptake of renewable electricity in the Kimberley as soon as possible
  • Allocates funding in the forward estimates to develop the managed transition plan and implement a Kimberley Clean Energy Roadmap
  • Pre-approves RE development zones and transmission corridors, after meaningful consultation with Traditional Owners, to enable rapid implementation
  • Develops plans/ support for a Kimberley RE construction industry
  • Develops tender requirements, reverse auction conditions and Power Purchase Agreement criteria
  • Develops staged plans of works for the Towns and Industry, Medium Communities and Small Communities

The Kimberley Clean Energy Roadmap could act as a pilot for the wider adoption of RE across the south western corner of the State. And ultimately, if adopted, this model could be rolled-out to other parts of regional and remote WA.

This pioneering research study and modelling demonstrates that the commitment to a RE future for the Kimberley will create a reliable, economically-favourable source of electricity for the future, reduce electricity costs for consumers, and create long-term jobs. Before implementation can commence, some technical and regulatory challenges need to be overcome. Achieving these changes requires clear political direction from the Western Australian Government. This report recommends that the WA Government:

  • Adopts the Kimberley Clean Energy Roadmap
  • Supports implementation of Horizon Power’s advanced microgrid roadmap
  • Develops a Kimberley Electricity Transition plan from this Roadmap
  • Updates policy settings to enable HP to facilitate a RE transition in the Kimberley (update generation rules, adopt microgrid standards, and enable an ongoing pipeline of RE installation, with associated economies of scale)
  • Conducts in-depth feasibility studies for the uptake of renewable electricity in the Kimberley as soon as possible
  • Allocates funding in the forward estimates to develop the managed transition plan and implement a Kimberley Clean Energy Roadmap
  • Pre-approves RE development zones and transmission corridors, after meaningful consultation with Traditional Owners, to enable rapid implementation
  • Develops plans/ support for a Kimberley RE construction industry
  • Develops tender requirements, reverse auction conditions and Power Purchase Agreement criteria
  • Develops staged plans of works for the Towns and Industry, Medium Communities and Small Communities

The Kimberley Clean Energy Roadmap could act as a pilot for the wider adoption of RE across the south western corner of the State. And ultimately, if adopted, this model could be rolled-out to other parts of regional and remote WA.