Binningup Desalination Plant - renewable energy

Extract from Hansard

[COUNCIL — Wednesday, 13 April 2011]

Hon Lynn MacLaren; Hon Helen Morton

SOUTHERN SEAWATER DESALINATION PLANT — RENEWABLE ENERGY

Hon Lynn MacLaren to the Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Water

With reference to the Water Corporation’s undertaking, that the Binningup Desalination Plant would be powered
by renewable energy, I ask —

(1) What is the status of this undertaking?

(2) What is the status of the tender process?

(3) When will an announcement be made as to who the successful tenderer is for the portion of energy to be
supplied using known technologies?

(4) When will an announcement be made as to who the successful tenderer is for the portion of energy to be
supplied using cutting edge / less well proven technologies?

(5) What will the cutting edge / less well proven technolog(ies) used be?

(6) What other desalination plants are being considered by the Western Australian State Government at
present?

(7) Will these desalination plants also be powered by renewable energy?

(8) If no to (7), why not?

Hon HELEN MORTON replied:

The Minister for Water has provided the following response:

(1) The Water Corporation is committed to satisfying the State environmental approval requirement that
electricity used by the plant is purchased from renewable energy sources.

(2) The Water Corporation is negotiating for the purchase of renewable energy and associated
environmental credits.

(3)–(4) Following the finalisation of all contractual arrangements.

(5) This information will not be available until the contractual arrangements are finalised.

(6) West Pilbara Seawater Desalination Plant.

(7) No

(8) Energy from renewable sources is not currently commercially available in the West Pilbara.