January 18: Western Power DER Procurement Targets 44.4 MW by 2029
Western Power DER procurement is set to scale from 18.9 MW in 2026–27 to 44.4 MW by 2028–29 across 23 SWIS feeders. WA’s Coordinator of Energy has approved Network Support Services to shore up summer reliability where local constraints bite. We explain what this means for batteries, demand response, and aggregators in Australia. We also outline how this feeder program links to SWIS peak demand and how fauna protection upgrades will support operations.
Timeline and scope of the procurement
Western Power will source Network Support Services on 23 SWIS feeders, lifting capacity from 18.9 MW in 2026–27 to 44.4 MW by 2028–29. This Western Power DER procurement focuses on local network needs during summer. It gives providers line‑of‑sight on multi‑year demand, supporting investment decisions for storage and flexible load. The approved scale signals a structured path for project pipelines to build toward 2029.
The program addresses SWIS peak demand that appears on hot afternoons and evenings when feeder constraints can emerge. DER grid support will target specific assets, not the whole system, which helps Western Power treat local bottlenecks at least cost. For investors, feeder geography, load shape, and customer mix will shape feasibility, dispatch profiles, and achievable performance across short, high‑value peak windows.
Who can win in the SWIS
The Western Power DER procurement opens contracted revenue for front‑of‑the‑meter and behind‑the‑meter batteries, commercial load curtailment, and virtual power plants. Providers that respond fast, meet telemetry rules, and prove performance during summer peaks can compete well. Multi‑year visibility from 2026–27 to 2028–29 supports portfolio planning, with potential to stage deployments as the MW requirement grows across the approved feeders.
Winning bids will align assets with the targeted feeders and their peak timing. Options include community batteries near constrained zones, C&I batteries at high‑load sites, and aggregated small batteries coordinated for DER grid support. Developers should prepare interconnection checks, customer contracts, and clear operating plans. Feeder mapping, baseline methods, and activation notice periods will guide optimal sizing and commercial returns.
Policy context and market alignment
This feeder program procures Network Support Services for local network needs, separate from wholesale market services. Many investors follow Western Power NCESS opportunities, but those relate to broader system services led by market processes. The Western Power DER procurement is a targeted distribution solution. Teams active across WA can still reuse capabilities like telemetry, measurement, and compliance frameworks to speed delivery.
WA’s Coordinator of Energy has approved the plan to procure services on 23 feeders, with a staged ramp to 44.4 MW by 2028–29. For background and program detail, see Meyka’s report on the approval and scope Western Power January 17: WA to Procure DER Grid Support on 23 Feeders. Bidders should watch for procurement documents, feeder lists, and clear summer performance windows tied to local risk.
Reliability add-ons: fauna protection and operations
Western Power is rolling out possum and bird guards on targeted assets to reduce wildlife‑related faults, which supports feeder reliability. This complements DER grid support by lowering the chance that non‑DER events cause outages during peak demand. See coverage of the approval and guard rollout in WA here Western Power’s WA grid-support buy gets go-ahead as possum and bird guards roll out.
Key signals include RFP release timing, eligible technology classes, telemetry standards, baseline rules, and any availability versus activation payment structures. Track when the first summer delivery starts in 2026–27, then the MW ramp. The Western Power DER procurement favours fast, verifiable response on specific feeders, so strong measurement and customer engagement plans will improve bankability and bid competitiveness.
Final Thoughts
For Australian investors, the message is clear. Western Power will buy feeder‑level services that grow from 18.9 MW in 2026–27 to 44.4 MW by 2028–29 across 23 SWIS feeders. This creates a defined, multi‑year lane for batteries, demand response, and aggregators to provide DER grid support during summer peaks. Focus your pipeline on the targeted feeders, validate interconnection, and ready telemetry. Build flexible operating plans that match local load shapes. Watch for procurement documents, performance metrics, and delivery windows. While distinct from broader NCESS processes, the program rewards proven response and clear measurement. Early preparation can secure capacity awards and stable, contracted income through 2029.
FAQs
What is the Western Power DER procurement?
It is a feeder‑level program in Western Australia to buy Network Support Services from DER, such as batteries and demand response, for summer peaks. Capacity scales from 18.9 MW in 2026–27 to 44.4 MW by 2028–29 across 23 SWIS feeders, creating multi‑year contracted opportunities for qualified providers.
Who can participate in the program?
Batteries, demand response providers, and DER aggregators are likely candidates, including community and behind‑the‑meter assets coordinated as virtual power plants. Success will depend on meeting telemetry, performance, and availability requirements, and on placing assets on the specific feeders where services are needed during peak demand periods.
How does this relate to SWIS peak demand?
The focus is local. Services target feeders that face stress during SWIS peak demand on hot afternoons and evenings. By guiding DER to those locations, Western Power can reduce constraints, improve reliability, and avoid costlier network upgrades, while providers earn contracted revenue tied to performance during defined summer windows.
Is this the same as Western Power NCESS?
No. The feeder program is a Network Support Services buy for local constraints. Western Power NCESS references broader system services discussions in WA, which follow separate market processes. The DER program is distribution‑focused. Some capabilities, like telemetry and measurement, can carry over if teams also pursue other WA service opportunities.
Disclaimer:
The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.
