The Nationals WA have announced a forward-thinking policy to build energy microgrids in Western
Australia, aiming to address long-standing energy reliability issues and support Australia’s
commitment to reducing emissions.
Leader of The Nationals WA, Shane Love MLA, said frequent power disruptions in regional towns—
caused by their distance from power generation sources and the transmission grid—highlight the
urgent need for targeted solutions
“Reliable energy provision is the cornerstone of any modern economy, powering industries,
businesses, schools, health facilities, and communities.”
“We depend on low-cost, reliable electricity for essential services such as refrigeration, technology,
telecommunications, petrol pumps, manufacturing, and water supply,” Mr Love said.
“By leveraging advancements in technology, microgrids can minimise disruptions, improve reliability,
and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.”
In Government, The Nationals WA will invest $3 million in a pilot microgrid in the town of Mullewa,
delivering desperately needed power reliability.
The Mullewa grid will leverage a combination of renewable energy sources, including solar and battery
storage and will pave the way for establishing additional microgrids in the Local Government Areas
identified by Western Power as most affected by outages.
The Nationals will also secure Kalgoorlie’s long-term energy stability by developing a microgrid in the
Goldfields City.
While temporary private gas fired generators have recently become available due to the nickel
industry downturn, the problem in providing reliable power is far from solved.
The Nationals foresee future growth in Kalgoorlie and plan to bolster power supply with a microgrid to
meet future needs.
The Nationals WA policy will also encourage land developers to submit plans to integrate community
microgrids into all greenfield developments.
“Community microgrids will address the challenges of housing delivery, lower power bills for
residents, reduce the impact of new load on the grid, and contribute to Australia’s net-zero goals.”
“The Nationals WA are committed to delivering sustainable and reliable energy solutions for regional
Western Australia, improving quality of life while building a resilient future for our state,” Mr Love said.
Local Government Areas identified by Western Power as most affected by outages include;
• Shire of Chapman Valley
• Shire of Dalwallinu
• Shire of Dandaragan
• Shire of Irwin
• Shire of Lake Grace
• Shire of Mingenew
• Shire of Morawa
• Shire of Quairading
• Shire of Ravensthorpe
• Shire of Three Springs
