WA Government Partners with Tesla for Battery Remanufacturing Facility

State premier Roger Cook and Tesla have announced plans to establish a significant battery remanufacturing facility in Collie, Western Australia, marking a transformation for the traditional coal mining town located 200 kilometers south of Perth.

The facility will be built alongside Neoen's Collie Battery project, which will become Australia's largest grid-scale battery installation utilizing 560 Tesla Megapacks.

Expected to begin operations by 2026, the facility will initially focus on servicing Tesla's grid-scale Megapack batteries and other Tesla products installed in Western Australia.

The scope will later expand to include residential Powerwall batteries and electric vehicle charging equipment. The facility is projected to employ up to 50 local workers at full capacity.

Western Australian Energy Minister Reece Whitby highlighted the strategic importance of the location, citing the region's substantial standalone electricity grid and significant battery infrastructure.

"We have one of the world's biggest stand-alone electricity grids in the southwest ... we have the biggest grid-scale batteries in Australia, and some of the biggest on the planet being hooked up to that grid".

Tesla's Regional Director of Energy, Josef Tadich, emphasized the facility's role in improving service delivery while reducing environmental impact:

"This new remanufacturing facility will enable the repair and maintenance of our utility-scale and residential batteries to take place right here in WA, providing faster support for local customers while reducing logistical costs and emissions".

The development follows Tesla's significant presence in the Australian market, with the company reporting sales of over 33,000 Powerwall batteries in Australia during 2022.

Tesla previously established its presence in Australian energy storage with the 2017 installation of what was then the world's largest lithium-ion battery at Hornsdale, South Australia, which received a capacity upgrade from Neoen in 2019.

For Collie, a town of approximately 7,500 residents, the facility represents part of a broader state government-supported transition away from its traditional coal industry base.

Premier Cook emphasized the project's significance for the region's economic evolution:

"Collie has been the heart of our energy system for the past century, and projects like this mean Collie will have a bright future as WA transitions away from coal."

The facility's establishment is expected to contribute to Western Australia's energy transition goals, supporting the delivery of clean, affordable, and reliable energy infrastructure.

The service center could potentially expand its reach to serve the broader Asia-Pacific region, positioning Western Australia as a strategic location for sustainable energy infrastructure maintenance and development.

This development aligns with the state's broader initiatives to diversify its energy sector while maintaining its role as a key energy hub.