Western Australia’s ambitious renewable energy transformation is encountering significant roadblocks, with leaked government documents contradicting Premier Roger Cook’s public assertions about the state becoming a clean energy “powerhouse.” The confidential papers reveal that bureaucrats have warned the Labor government about a concerning stagnation in large-scale renewable projects, raising serious questions about whether the state can meet its commitment to phase out coal-fired power stations by 2030.
This revelation comes at a critical time, just months before a state election that could reshape WA’s energy future. The disconnect between political rhetoric and on-ground reality highlights the complex challenges facing one of Australia’s most resource-rich states as it attempts to balance economic interests with environmental commitments while maintaining energy security for its growing population and industrial base.
Stalled Progress Contradicts Political Promises
Internal government documents obtained by Guardian Australia paint a stark picture of Western Australia’s renewable energy sector, directly contradicting the premier’s optimistic public statements. The confidential briefing papers explicitly state that the “decarbonisation work program” for Perth’s main electricity grid has “stalled to date,” with officials warning of insufficient wind developments ready for grid connection before the planned 2027 coal plant closure.
This assessment aligns with independent analysis showing that electricity generation from large-scale renewable sources has remained essentially static at approximately 18% of total grid output since 2021. The South West Interconnected System, which powers most of Western Australia from the Mid West to the Great Southern regions, has seen virtually no major wind or solar additions during the first three years of Labor’s current term.
The data reveals a concerning timeline gap. Between 2021 and 2023, no significant renewable projects came online, with only the modest 76-megawatt Flat Rocks wind farm connecting in 2024. Looking ahead, the pipeline appears equally sparse, with just two confirmed wind farms scheduled for completion by 2028.
Infrastructure Bottlenecks Hamper Development
Transmission infrastructure emerges as a critical bottleneck constraining renewable energy expansion. The leaked documents reveal that the estimated cost of the crucial Clean Energy Link north of Perth has ballooned by more than 50%, from $655 million to $1 billion. This transmission line is essential for connecting wind and solar projects in the resource-rich Midwest region to Perth’s population centers.
The government has committed $500 million in funding to develop the Clean Energy Link, which officials say must be completed by December 2027. However, the scale of the challenge is immense, with forecasts suggesting up to 50 gigawatts of new renewable capacity will be needed over the next two decades to replace retiring plants and meet rising electricity demand.
Part of the delay in connecting new large-scale renewable energy has been blamed on a lack of new transmission links to join them to the grid. Many existing wind and solar projects face constant constraints due to inadequate transmission capacity, making it difficult and expensive for investors to get connected to the grid.
Financial Pressures Mount on State Energy Assets
The confidential documents also expose financial strain within the state’s energy sector. Synergy, the government-owned electricity generator, is reportedly operating in a “challenging financial position” requiring additional subsidies. Despite committing $3.7 billion for new state-owned wind farms and battery storage, 89% of allocated funding – about $3.25 billion – has been distributed, leaving over 900 megawatts of planned capacity without confirmed financing.
This financial pressure occurs as the government simultaneously supports major fossil fuel expansions, including a 50-year extension for Woodside’s North-West Shelf gas facility and new gas basins to feed it. Critics argue this dual approach undermines renewable energy development while perpetuating emissions-intensive industries.
The chair of Sustainable Energy Now, Fraser Maywood, described the situation as “dire” with “little sign of life” in the renewable energy pipeline. He noted that 1.2 gigawatts of large renewables had been added to the grid over 20 years, but government forecasts suggest another 50GW would be needed in the next two decades.
Political Battle Lines Drawn Over Energy Future
The renewable energy stagnation has become a flashpoint in Western Australia’s political world. Greens MP Brad Pettitt accused the government of “putting its foot on the hose” regarding renewable development while prioritizing fossil fuel projects. He noted that no large renewable developments are currently under construction in the main power grid, despite promises to close the state’s coal-fired power plants by the end of the decade.
Opposition Liberal energy spokesman Steve Thomas characterized the delays as “the worst-kept secret in energy discussions in Western Australia,” stating the government was “years behind any sort of schedule that would keep the lights on while an energy transition plan was in place.” He predicted they would not be able to shut coal-fired stations on their promised timeframe.
Rooftop Solar Provides Bright Spot
While large-scale renewable development has stalled, the clean energy slowdown does not apply to rooftop solar panels, which provided 19.8% of Perth’s electricity last year, for the first time exceeding the total from solar and wind farms combined. Several large batteries are also in development, and the government has promised a rebate scheme for household batteries if re-elected.
Pettitt said modelling by Sustainable Energy Now found the cheapest Perth grid of the future would derive 87% of its electricity from renewable energy. However, achieving this would require a “huge amount of extra wind” – 4,800MW – while the state government was aiming to build only 810MW.