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When Synergy set out to transform Western Australia’s energy future with the Collie Battery Energy Storage System (CBESS), they envisioned a benchmark project that would drive the state closer to the State Government’s net zero targets. With support from ABB Electrification, that vision is becoming a reality.
The CBESS project, strategically located adjacent to the Collie Power Station, features 640 batteries and 160 inverters, and with 500 megawatts of installed capacity and 2,000 megawatt hours of energy storage. It is designed to store renewable energy produced during the day and release it into the Southwest Interconnected System (SWIS) when demand peaks. As Marlon Cooray, Synergy’s Manager of Major Projects, explains, “This is Synergy’s third large-scale battery project and the most ambitious yet. The CBESS project will be able to store 10 times the energy of KBESS 1, which Synergy deployed just two years ago.”
Integrating renewable energy and technology
ABB played a pivotal role in helping Synergy integrate renewable energy into Western Australia’s grid.
“Our solution is a key link between the battery energy storage system and the grid,” explains Michael Healy, Key Account Manager at ABB Electrification. “By delivering a robust, fully integrated system, we enabled Synergy to connect renewable energy sources reliably and efficiently to where they’re needed most.”
ABB was selected via competitive tender to supply a packaged eHouse solution featuring two 33kV switchrooms and a control room. Healy notes, “Our solution includes air-insulated switchgear (AIS) that provides a reliable, safe connection between the battery system and the grid. It’s fully tested before shipping, allowing for seamless integration on delivery.”
Collaboration that delivered
From the outset, collaboration between Synergy and ABB was critical. Weekly project meetings, combined with quarterly senior leadership reviews, ensured tight alignment and rapid decision-making. “This was more than just project governance,” says Sheikh Asheef, Senior Project Manager at ABB Electrification. “It was a culture of open communication.”
The physical delivery of the eHouse presented a unique challenge – the switchrooms were manufactured in an ABB partner facility in Adelaide, and had to be transported more than 3,200 kilometers to the Collie site in Western Australia.
“The units were 37.5 meters long, 6.5 meters wide and weighed around 125 tonnes each. Transporting them safely required special permits, police escorts, and coordination with multiple state government agencies,” explains Asheef.
“It was only possible with full collaboration and support from Synergy,” he adds.
Delivering the infrastructure on a compressed timeline added another layer of complexity. While projects of this scale typically span 12 to 16 months, ABB compressed its contribution to just 11 months.
Overcoming early delays in the tender process required trust and agility on both sides. “Strong relationships between our project teams enabled quick escalation and issue resolution,” says Cooray. “It’s that collaboration that allowed us to get the schedule back on track.”
