Alinta pursuing South Hedland gas, battery

Alinta Energy is seeking environmental assent for a 60 megawatt gas generator and 40MW battery in Port Hedland, after development approval was deferred.

The project would add capacity to the Boodarie power plant in South Hedland, raising it to 234MW.

Alinta had previously estimated it would be worth $200 million.

In January, Business News reported approval by the Regional Development Assessment Panel had been delayed because Alinta had not yet received the green light from the Environmental Protection Authority.

Last week, public comments were opened for the EPA process.

The documents suggest Alinta believes the project would lower carbon equivalent emissions by 100,000 tonnes annually. 

They also show the EPA had required Alinta to draft a new referral after an initial, third party, submission had insufficient information.

In May, a $100 million battery for Wagerup was given development approval.

Alinta was planning the 100-megawatt battery on the site of Alcoa’s Wagerup refinery, where the company already operates two gas turbines with combined capacity of 350MW.

Wagerup’s gas generators are designed to produce power when demand or supply is changing rapidly, while batteries will be able to provide a similar service.

The Wagerup battery had earlier been approved by the EPA.