The Nationals WA have announced a forward-thinking policy to build energy microgrids in Western Australia, aiming to address long-standing energy reliability issues and support Australia’s commitment to reducing emissions.
Candidate for Central Wheatbelt Lachlan Hunter said frequent power disruptions in regional towns – caused by their distance from power generation sources and the transmission grid – highlight the urgent need for targeted solutions.
“Reliable energy provision is the cornerstone of any modern economy, powering industries, businesses, schools, health facilities, and communities.”
“We depend on low-cost, reliable electricity for essential services such as refrigeration, technology, telecommunications, petrol pumps, manufacturing, and water supply,” Mr Hunter said.
“By leveraging advancements in technology, microgrids can minimise disruptions, improve reliability, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.”
In Government, the Nationals WA will invest #3 million in a pilot microgrid in the town of Mullewa, delivering desperately needed power reliability.
The Mullewa grid will leverage a combination of renewable energy sources, including solar and battery storage and will pave the way for establishing additional microgrids in the Local Government Areas identified by Western Power as most affected by outages – this includes Quairading in the Central Wheatbelt.
The Nationals WA policy will also encourage land developers to submit plans to integrate community microgrids into all greenfield developments.
“Community microgrids will address the challenges of housing deliver, lower power bills for residents, reduce the impact of new load on the grid, and contribute to Australia’s net-zero goals.”
“The Nationals WA are committed to delivering sustainable and reliable energy solutions for regional Western Australia, improving quality of life while building a resilient future for our state,” Mr Hunter said.