WA’s Power Surge: New Investment Wave Unveiled in 2025 WEM Outlook
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Western Australia’s Grid Set for Major Upgrades
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has spotlighted a decade of promising investment opportunities in its 2025 Wholesale Electricity Market Electricity Statement of Opportunities (WEM ESOO) report. The focus? Reinforcing electricity reliability and accelerating the shift toward cleaner, smarter energy solutions in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS).
Battery Boom Boosts Reliability
Since 2023, the SWIS has welcomed nearly 500MW of operational battery storage, with another 728MW already committed and expected to go live in 2025–26. AEMO’s Nicola Falcon notes this battery wave has helped alleviate reliability risks previously forecasted, especially during peak summer heatwaves.
> “Strong battery investment has stabilized our power system. But continued, timely project delivery is essential to meet growing demand and replace ageing infrastructure,” Falcon emphasized.
Forecasting Future Needs
Looking ahead, AEMO predicts:
A small 50MW shortfall in the 2025–26 summer—smaller than previous years.
A pipeline of over 1600MW in committed/probable projects (generation and storage) by 2027–28.
An additional 2300MW in proposed capacity from the 2025 Reserve Capacity Cycle.
AEMO may once again trigger supplementary capacity procurement if heatwaves stretch grid limits, as they’ve done successfully the past three summers.
Coal & Gas Exits Accelerate
By 2032, approximately 1700MW of coal and gas generation is expected to retire. This includes:
Collie, Muja D (coal)
Pinjar (gas)
Bluewaters (coal) – privately owned, with uncertainty around coal supply past 2027.
Bluewaters' early retirement is still under review, and AEMO has modeled scenarios for both early and continued operation to 2030–31.
Transmission Network Upgrade: A Critical Backbone
AEMO says the transition depends heavily on the planned expansion of Western Power’s transmission network. This infrastructure is crucial to bring proposed capacity online and meet demand growth from population and electrification trends.
> “Getting the right mix of storage and renewables is key to a secure, low-emission future for WA,” Falcon added.
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