Western Australia Carbon Intensity

Western Australia Grid Carbon Intensity

Western Australia operates the Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM) independently of the NEM, with no interconnection to the eastern states. The grid's carbon intensity is primarily driven by gas-fired generation, which supplies the majority of electricity in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS). Gas has a lower emission factor than coal — approximately 0.49–0.65 tCO₂/MWh depending on the plant type — giving WA a moderate baseline intensity.

Wind and solar capacity are growing across the SWIS, and rooftop solar penetration is reducing daytime demand and intensity. However, the lack of interconnection means Western Australia cannot import lower-emission electricity from other regions, making local generation mix the sole determinant of grid intensity.

For organisations operating in Western Australia, the 30-minute trading interval and gas-dominated generation create a different intensity profile to the NEM regions. Monitoring WA's grid intensity separately is important for accurate Scope 2 reporting and for identifying optimal times for flexible load scheduling.