Planning for Onslow's energy future
The Onslow Decarbonisation Project was established to assess the town’s long-term generation needs and potential pathways for increasing renewable energy.
Horizon Power has now completed this early planning work, including engineering modelling, environmental and heritage assessments, land due diligence and community engagement, which will support future planning and places Onslow in a stronger position for renewable energy investment when required.
Onslow remains central to our long-term planning. The work completed to date preserves future options and secures land availability for when conditions support project progression.
Onslow
Future-ready planning complete
Future options preserved
How does Onslow's current system work?
Onslow’s power supply is generated using a mix of gas and diesel generators, a 1 MW centralised solar farm located next to the power station, two battery energy storage systems (BESS), and customer-installed rooftop solar and batteries.
Renewable energy currently supplies around 17% of Onslow’s electricity needs. While renewable energy already contributes to the town’s electricity supply, Onslow remains one of Horizon Power’s higher-emissions systems. The completed planning work considered potential pathways for increasing renewable generation over the longer term.
Community engagement
Community engagement played an important role in this project. Throughout the planning and options assessment process, Horizon Power engaged with residents, Traditional Owners, local businesses, community organisations and other stakeholders to better understand community priorities, aspirations and perspectives.
The insights shared through this engagement demonstrated a strong interest in Onslow's energy future, and have contributed to an important record of community feedback to date.
We would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views, attend engagement activities and contribute their insights throughout the project. Your involvement has helped inform our understanding of what matters to the Onslow community.
What's happening now?
Horizon Power has completed the options analysis for the Onslow Decarbonisation Project, which considered technical, commercial, land, environmental, heritage and community factors.
Onslow’s long-term energy requirements will continue to be monitored through Horizon Power’s energy-planning processes. The assessments and approvals completed through this project will also help reduce the work required if renewable options are revisited in the future.
What does this mean for the community?
Cleaner, greener
We've assessed renewable energy options to reduce carbon emissions
Regions first
Future investment decisions will consider Onslow's energy needs, reliability, affordability and community priorities.
Onslow’s power needs are growing rapidly with the arrival of new customers. While Horizon Power commissioned the current power station and 1 MW solar farm in 2019, forecasted demand is expected to exceed the network’s capacity within the next few years. This project will help meet future demand while increasing renewable energy use and reducing carbon emissions.
Onslow’s electricity is currently generated using gas, diesel, battery storage, and customer-installed rooftop solar, producing approximately 20,000 tonnes of COâ‚‚ annually. Increasing renewable generation will significantly reduce these emissions and support WA’s decarbonisation targets.
Onslow currently has a 1 MW utility-scale solar farm located adjacent to the Onslow Power Station, along with two Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). In addition, many residents and businesses have installed rooftop solar systems, supported by Horizon Power’s Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS), which allows for safe and efficient integration of customer-owned solar.
Communities are at the heart of our Future Energy System planning framework, and all members of the community are invited to provide their feedback.
The procurement process will include criteria for local employment and contracting opportunities, ensuring regional businesses and Traditional Owners have an opportunity to participate in the project’s delivery.
A decarbonisation solution looks at cleaner energy sources such as solar and wind generation, coupled with battery energy storage solutions and consideration must be made to ensure the products are technologically and commercially readily available. In the initial stages of the project, we’ll assess which of these generation types are most viable for the Onslow community’s energy requirements.
We are assessing a large-scale solar farm with battery energy storage (ranging from 8 MW to 27 MW of solar and 12 MWh to 84 MWh of battery capacity). This could achieve between 42% and 80% renewable penetration for Onslow’s future energy system.
Community engagement helps us understand each town’s appetite for renewable energy, and feedback will inform the final solution. It’s important to note that while the new system may reduce reliance on fossil fuels, thermal generation may still play a role in meeting demand and supporting reliability during periods of low renewable generation or other challenging conditions.
Future Energy System planning framework is a public process in which Horizon Power works together with our communities and stakeholders to identify and explore energy options to shape their future energy system.
We engage and inform local communities, Local Government Authorities, Traditional Owner groups and key stakeholders to determine long-term energy solutions that best meet their needs. This includes seeking support on acquiring land on which to build the generation facility. We work to balance the demand, reliability and future energy needs of our towns with the voices and opinions of those who help make it a community.
Yes. More than 100 hectares of land has been secured to support the potential development of a future energy solution for Onslow. Securing the land helps position Onslow for future investment if and when it is required.
There is no current delivery date for new renewable generation through the Onslow Decarbonisation Project.
Horizon Power will continue monitoring the town’s long-term energy requirements. Renewable options may be reconsidered in the future as capacity needs and other conditions evolve.
Flora and fauna surveys conducted in May 2024 found no significant ecological constraints.
An Environmental Management Plan will guide construction and operation, overseen by a site-based Environmental Officer and subject to government environmental approvals.
What's happened and when?
Heres a high level timeline of what we have done so far, subject to change as the project progresses.
Horizon Power acknowledges the Traditional Custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain images, names or voices of deceased people.