Project overview
We’re exploring options for Halls Creek to transition to more renewables and decrease carbon emissions. Since 2023, we’ve been engaging with local communities and Traditional Owners to determine long-term energy solutions that best meet the community’s need, using our Future Energy Framework as a guide.
Regions first
In progress
Driving lower emissions
How does Halls Creek current system work?
Halls Creek’s current power supply is primarily generated through diesel and gas, with limited contributions from renewable sources such as rooftop solar.
The system currently generates approximately 7,500 tonnes of COâ‚‚-equivalent emissions per year.
Community engagement
Communities are at the heart of our Future Energy Framework, which works to ensure active participation among all stakeholders, including residents, Traditional Owners, businesses, and community groups throughout the process.
We consider community aspirations, existing infrastructure, and factors like land, heritage, and the environment to align planning with Halls Creek's unique characteristics. 
Our approach includes informing, consulting, incorporating input, and communicating back to the community. A range of engagement methods will be used ensuring all stakeholders have an opportunity to contribute.
What's happening now?
We’re in the future energy systems options analysis phase. This includes financial assessment, market testing, engineering, land assessments, stakeholder engagement, project management, environmental and heritage due diligence activities.
We’ll continue to share updates and consult the community as planning progresses.
What does this mean for the community?
Cleaner, greener
We’re investigating renewable energy options to reduce carbon emissions.
Regions first
Ensuring we develop long-term solutions aligned with the unique characteristics and interests of the community.
Horizon Power is supporting the State Government's commitment to reduce public sector emissions by 80% by 2030 and to become net zero by 2050. To achieve this goal, we’re prioritising towns that emit the highest levels of carbon emissions (CO2) and are powered primarily by fossil fuelled generators using gas and diesel.
Halls Creek’s power system is one of Horizon Power’s higher-emission sites, primarily due to its reliance on diesel generation. Reducing emissions in the town is a key focus of our transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions.
Planning for a new energy system is complex and takes time. The energy generation solution also needs to be tailored to each town, so it’s important that we start engaging with local communities early.
Through the deployment of Smart Connect Solar, supported by our Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS), Halls Creek residents and businesses can now install rooftop solar safely and efficiently. This technology allows the community to participate more actively in the energy transition and helps increase the town’s renewable energy capacity as we work toward reducing reliance on diesel.
Communities are at the heart of our Future Energy System planning framework, and all members of the community are invited to provide their feedback.
A decarbonisation solution looks at cleaner energy sources such as solar and wind generation, coupled with battery energy storage solutions and consideration must be made to ensure the products are technologically and commercially readily available. In the initial stages of the project, we’ll assess which of these generation types are most viable for the Halls Creek community’s energy requirements.
As we progress the solution design for the future energy system, the technical considerations and economic viability may mean that some generation types cannot be part of the final solution. For example, wind is no longer an option for Halls Creek's future energy system
Community engagement helps us understand each town’s appetite for renewable energy, and feedback will inform the final solution. It’s important to note that while the new system may reduce reliance on fossil fuels, thermal generation may still play a role in meeting demand and supporting reliability during periods of low renewable generation or other challenging conditions.
We engage and inform local communities, Local Government Authorities, Traditional Owner groups and key stakeholders to determine long-term energy solutions that best meet their needs. This includes seeking support on acquiring land on which to build the generation facility. We work to balance the demand, reliability and future energy needs of our towns with the voices and opinions of those who help make it a community.
Renewable generation facilities such as a wind or solar farm require far larger footprints of land compared to a diesel- or gas-powered facility. The amount of land available determines the percentage of the town’s energy generated from renewable sources.
If we are unable to acquire land, we substantially reduce the amount of renewable generation options available for the town.
Planning for a future energy system is complex and takes time and community engagement to gather opinions and thoughts. If the recommended system is approved for delivery, construction would likely commence in 2028.
We have considered hydrogen on several recent projects and will continue to explore hydrogen as a viable future energy solution. At the current time:
- It is too costly to produce hydrogen onsite for use
- There are no reliable suppliers to deliver hydrogen as a fuel source.
What's happening and when?
Here's a high level timeline of what to expect, subject to change as the project progresses.
We have four shortlisted vendors from suitably qualified and experienced organisations interested in entering into a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to supply Horizon Power with electricity in the towns of Broome, Derby, Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing & Looma-Camballin through a closed tender process.
Horizon Power acknowledges the Traditional Custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain images, names or voices of deceased people.