Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has released its report and recommendations on a proposal to expand the Kwinana Swift Power Station, with the project now progressing beyond public appeal.
Western Energy Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of AGL Energy, has proposed the development of an additional 250 megawatts (MW) of open cycle gas turbine (OCGT) capacity at the existing Kwinana site, located about 40 kilometres south of Perth in the Kwinana Industrial Area.
Known as the K2 Power Station, the extension would lift the facility’s total generation capacity to 370 MW and provide additional electricity during high demand periods on the South West Interconnected System (SWIS).
The proposal involves the construction, installation and operation of up to four OCGTs, along with associated infrastructure, designed as a peaking power station to deliver short‑notice output at times of peak and high shoulder demand.
The turbines would be multi‑fuel capable, able to operate on natural gas, diesel, distillate, ethane, liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and hydrogen.
Importantly, the new project would not require additional clearing of native vegetation and intends to leverage existing site infrastructure to connect into the SWIS.
The proponent’s documents note that the existing Kwinana Swift Power Station units are not part of this development.
The project site sits at 1 Burton Place, Kwinana Beach (Lot 13 on Deposited Plan 39572) within the City of Kwinana.
The facility’s location inside the established industrial zone means there are no anticipated effects on conservation areas or undisturbed land.
The EPA identified greenhouse gas emissions as the key environmental factor requiring assessment, although other matters, including terrestrial quality, inland waters, air quality and social surroundings were also considered.
The EPA detailed its assessment in Report 1791, published on 11 September 2025.
The Authority concluded that the primary environmental risk was related to greenhouse gas emissions generated by the additional turbines.
These impacts were assessed in line with the EPA’s environmental factor objectives and the state’s evolving climate policy framework.
The EPA noted that the plant’s ability to operate on alternative fuels, including hydrogen, gives some scope for future decarbonisation and lower‑carbon operation.
However, the report emphasised the importance of ongoing emissions management strategies given the project’s contribution to Western Australia’s overall greenhouse gas inventory.
As part of its evaluation, the EPA confirmed that other environmental factors were unlikely to present a significant risk.
No clearing of native vegetation was proposed, and the use of an existing industrial site with established connections to energy and transport infrastructure meant the project’s physical footprint would be limited.
With the EPA’s report and recommendations released and no appeal option available at this stage, the K2 Project moves to the next stage of state government consideration.
Final approval decisions will rest with the Minister for Environment, taking into account the EPA’s findings, other regulatory requirements, and whole‑of‑government considerations.
Western Energy’s proposed expansion comes amid increasing pressure on the SWIS during summer peaks and follows broader industry efforts to balance new gas‑fired generation with renewables integration.
If approved, the K2 Power Station would provide the system operator with additional dispatchable capacity to meet high‑demand events and help manage reliability risks as Western Australia continues its energy transition.
