The State Government has identified four priority corridors for the development of new common use transmission infrastructure in the Pilbara. As part of the Expression of Interest process launched at the Pilbara Roundtable on 13 September, project proponents within these corridors were invited to apply for Priority Project status as part of the Pilbara Energy Transmission (PET) Plan.
The Hamersley Range Corridor will connect the Boodarie Strategic Industrial Area (SIA) and Port Hedland with the eastern edge of the Hamersley Range. This Range is home to the highest mountains in Western Australia, as well as the majority of the State’s iron ore mining.
The Hamersley Range Corridor is expected to form an integral part of the future interconnected Pilbara network. Transmission infrastructure in the corridor will be able to supply iron ore mines, lithium mines, Port Hedland, and the Boodarie Strategic Industrial Area. In the longer term, the line may connect to generation sites located to the east and the south, where high quality wind profiles would drive renewable energy generation.
The Pilbara Energy Transition (PET) Plan
The PET Plan will accelerate decarbonisation by encouraging more common-use transmission infrastructure in the Pilbara and unlocking the best renewable resources in the region. The plan is a crucial component of delivering the State Government’s commitment to reach Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Transmission infrastructure is critical for connecting renewable energy to where the demand for electricity is located. Common-use infrastructure in the Pilbara will enable access to diverse renewable energy sources, supporting energy security and reliability and reducing the impact of industry on the environment.
Priority Projects
Priority common-use transmission projects will be identified under the PET Plan. Designated Priority Projects will receive a State Government recommendation to be considered for concessional financing from WA's allocation of up to $3 billion under the Australian Government's Rewiring the Nation program, administered by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
