Goldfields Regional Network: FAQ

PoweringWA will act as both a coordinator and facilitator between Aboriginal people in the region, industry, community and all levels of government. PoweringWA will undertake early project scoping, identifying potential cost-efficient options, and will work with industry on determining the most appropriate market and regulatory design features for the GRN. 

PoweringWA will not build, operate or own the GRN, as the intent is for a privately led solution. The intent is for the State Government to play a supporting role with an emphasis on the facilitation of any approvals required from State Government agencies and through facilitation of community engagement, including with Aboriginal people.

PoweringWA and Energy Policy WA will also play a role in designing and implementing appropriate regulatory and market arrangements. 

While the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) Transmission Plan indicates a five-node GRN structure between Kalgoorlie and Leinster, this is not definitive. The exact configuration of the transmission infrastructure layout will be developed in consultation with Aboriginal people in the region, industry, and communities to determine a solution that meets the objectives of a broad range of stakeholders. 

The intent at this stage of the project is to connect the GRN to the SWIS. Stage One modelling assumed that the GRN would be connected to the SWIS via the existing 220 kilovolt line between Muja and Kalgoorlie, and this continues to be the assumption in Stage Two. 

Exactly how the GRN will interact with the SWIS will be explored in Stage Three (Regulatory and Markets Assessment). It may also be the case that the GRN is built in stages - starting as a stand-alone network and connecting to the SWIS at a later date.

Development of the Goldfields Regional Network (GRN) is progressing through a structured, three-stage process aimed at demonstrating the Network's feasibility and potential benefits.  

Stage One of this process – a high-level economic assessment of the GRN concept – is complete. PoweringWA is now progressing Stages Two (Commercial Assessment) and Three (Regulatory and Markets Review).

Stage Two began in March 2025, with the commencement of Stage Three to follow later this year. PoweringWA aims to complete both Stages by early - mid 2026.

Stage Two modelling assumes the GRN would be operational from 2033-34, but delivery timelines will be confirmed through engagement with potential proponents later in the process.

Regulatory and market arrangements options that could apply to the GRN will be identified and assessed during Stage Three of the Project. This will require consultation with various key stakeholders, and will consider the various regulatory and market arrangements currently in place in WA and other jurisdictions.

PoweringWA is currently undertaking detailed analysis of the GRN footprint to identify potential locations for transmission infrastructure. The next step will be to consider elements such as regulatory and market arrangements. Specific line routes will be defined later in the project, in consultation with local Aboriginal groups, community and industry as part of future project development.

The recent outages in Kalgoorlie and surrounds highlight the need to reinforce the Goldfields region's energy supply. The State Government has progressed a number of solutions to improve reliability outcomes in the short term and is progressing the Goldfields Regional Network as a long-term solution.

Western Power has undertaken a range of network upgrades in the region, including securing additional back-up generation from TransAlta from October 2024. This complements Western Power’s existing arrangements with Synergy's West Kalgoorlie Power Station.

In the medium term, the Cook Government has committed $150 million towards installing a 50 megawatt, 10-hour WA-made vanadium flow battery which will also support Kalgoorlie’s power supply. The Goldfields Regional Network is being explored as a complementary, long-term solution to the region’s reliability challenges.

PoweringWA will undertake structured engagement with Aboriginal stakeholders. The outcomes of this engagement will help shape the GRN project while also ensuring local Aboriginal groups have meaningful opportunities to participate in, and benefit from, the project.

Many of the large industrial users in the Goldfields region currently operate stand-alone energy systems, disconnected from the grid. Even where these operators utilise some degree of renewable energy, there is a significant need for gas and diesel as back-up. This is both emissions intensive and expensive.

The GRN would act as common user infrastructure, helping industry to decarbonise by reducing their reliance on gas and diesel generation to provide security of supply. It would connect industry to renewable generation, better supporting their energy needs. Some diesel and gas generation may still be required in reserve; but these should be less under an interconnected GRN.

Energy that feeds into the GRN would also provide benefits to the SWIS if the two networks are connected. The wind profile in the Goldfields region is not strongly correlated with the wind profile of other generation hotspots in the SWIS. Connecting this new capacity would reduce the need for the SWIS to rely on other forms of energy when there is low wind output at existing wind generation sites. 

Stages Two and Three are now scheduled to be completed in early - mid 2026. This is due to a decision for PoweringWA to undertake more detailed project design, informed by the outcomes of Stage One.