The State Government is powering ahead with its commitment to diversify the economy, enhance Western Australia’s manufacturing capabilities and create the jobs of the future, by examining local manufacturing and servicing opportunities for wind turbine components.
The Government has commissioned independent consultants Aurecon to undertake a comprehensive full feasibility study to progress findings of previous analysis which initially examined wind farm supply opportunities in WA.
A 2021 study recommended actions to progress wind turbine manufacturing in WA, including developing a detailed approach for Government trading enterprises in the energy sector such as Synergy, Horizon and Western Power, and identified that Government investment and financial assistance is critical to transition WA businesses to wind turbine component manufacturing.
The full feasibility study is the next step of the State Government’s $10 million Wind Turbine Manufacturing Initiative to further support and facilitate local wind turbine manufacturing, and will verify opportunities for WA businesses and identify requirements for a potential manufacturing hub, including suitable industrial land.
The study complements the WA Government’s commitment to cut emissions and transition to renewable energy by growing the State’s capability and capacity to manufacture the green energy infrastructure necessary for the transition.
The Wind Turbine Manufacturing Initiative is supported by the Local Participation in Wind Farm Supply Action Group, comprising industry representative bodies, steel producers, local fabricators and wind farm proponents.
Aurecon will consult with industry and supply chain participants to verify and scope current and future demand requirements, industry participation, logistics requirements, and supply chain capacity in WA.
For more information on the WA Government’s Wind Turbine Manufacturing Initiative, visit:
https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-jobs-tourism-science-and-innovation/windfarms
As stated by State Development, Jobs and Trade Minister Roger Cook:
“With one of the longest coast lines in the world, wind energy is a natural fit for WA.
“This study builds on our plans to invest an estimated $3.8 billion in green energy infrastructure to help cut WA Government emissions by 80 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030, and we are eager to understand the sustainable opportunities to locally manufacture turbine components.
“Growing our capacity to manufacture components locally will help improve the efficiency of serving this vital green infrastructure, and create new export opportunities.
“Developing a wind turbine component manufacturing industry is another way the WA Government is diversifying the economy and creating additional sustainable jobs for Western Australians.”
