Western Australia’s clean energy future has received another boost with the Western Australian Government announcing support for a $6.5 million co-investment project by local engineering firm Camco Engineering. Administered by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC), the overall Program is on track to create more than 100 new jobs and deliver over $100 million in economic impact to Western Australia over five years.
This latest investment will support Camco Engineering’s (Camco) transition into the rapidly growing wind energy sector through the manufacture of wind turbine anchor cages, a critical component for wind farm construction and a capability that does not currently exist in Western Australia.
Camco’s 14-month project marks the fourth co-investment under the program with the manufacturer receiving $2,054,953 in government co-investment, alongside its own investment of $4 million and $350,000 of in-kind contributions. As part of the project, Camco will collaborate with a global wind energy Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and a wind project developer to deliver the new capability.
Amber-Jade Sanderson, Western Australia Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation, said: There has never been a more important time to secure clean, affordable and reliable energy in Western Australia, which is why our government investing in the energy transition and our Made in WA plan. This investment will establish a new local manufacturing capability for critical wind energy infrastructure, reducing reliance on imports and strengthening WA’s manufacturing base.”
Traditionally, anchor cages are imported and assembled from loose components to form steel structures that secure turbines and transfer wind and rotational forces to the foundation. This process makes fault detection and tolerance checks difficult before on-site assembly and offers little local manufacturing input. With this new co-investment, Camco will invest in specialised equipment and upskilling staff to manufacture and deliver high-precision anchor cages, along with clever pre-assembly and transport solutions that cut waste, improve efficiency, and enhance safety.
Glenn Bailey, Chief Executive Officer of Camco Engineering, said: “Our project is an important strategic step in building a truly local capability in wind infrastructure manufacturing. With the support of the Western Australian Government and AMGC, we’ll work closely with global wind energy leaders to leverage our advanced manufacturing expertise into the clean energy sector and ensure value from future projects is retained here in Western Australia for the benefit of all Western Australians.”
The project will deliver wide-ranging benefits to Western Australia, including job creation and workforce upskilling, reduced emissions and transport costs by manufacturing closer to project sites, and strengthened supply chain resilience through onshoring critical infrastructure. Smart pre-assembly and logistics solutions will set new benchmarks for efficiency and safety in wind farm construction.
Over the next five years, Camco will establish a dedicated Wind Power Division, creating 26 new jobs across design, engineering, logistics, production, and service roles, while injecting $46 million in new revenues into the Western Australian economy. Camco has already engaged with multiple wind tower OEMs and will partner with wind energy infrastructure leaders to leverage its new capability in upcoming Western Australian projects.
A 2025 Western Australian Government report forecasts that by 2035 more than 50 per cent of the Western Australian electricity grid will be supplied by wind energy, around 7,000 megawatt hours, with much of this growth delivered through new wind turbine projects across the State. This rapid expansion underscores the urgent need to build strong local manufacturing capability.
Ellen McGarrity, State Director Western Australia, AMGC, said: “This project represents a strategic investment in Western Australia’s role in the State’s clean energy future. By establishing local anchor cage manufacturing capability, Camco will deliver a solution that creates real jobs, reduces emissions, and strengthens local supply chains.”
Administered by AMGC, Camco’s project is the fourth business to receive co-investment through the $8 million Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program, launched in late 2024. Across all projects to date, the Program is expected to create over 100 new jobs and generate more than $100 million in new revenues for Western Australia’s economy within its first five years.
Applications to the Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program are open, continuous, and competitive until available funding is exhausted. Manufacturers interested in applying can access guidelines and a pre-recorded webinar via https://www.amgc.org.au/wind-energy-program/. Program details, eligibility criteria, and the application portal are available on the website.
- Market entry stream: Capability focused, indicative project size $20K-$60K (co-investment contribution $10K-$30K). This stream supports pre-qualification and accreditation processes, niche software, process improvement and alike.
- Market growth stream: capacity and capability focused, including capital and/or operating expenditure. Indicative project size $500K-$1 million (Co-investment contribution $250K-$500K). This stream supports plant and equipment enhancement (up to 25% of total project cost), R&D projects to create a competitive advantage, and associated investment in ‘market entry’ projects.
Manufacturers interested in applying for funds under either of the two program streams can access written guidelines and a pre-recorded webinar via https://www.amgc.org.au/wind-energy-program/
Program details, eligibility criteria and application portal can also be found at: www.amgc.org.au/wind-energy-program/
Over the past 10 years, AMGC has facilitated more than 500 national collaborations and co-funded over 160 industry projects, creating more than 4,300 jobs across the country. It has invested over $137 million of combined industry and Government funds into manufacturing projects, resulting in an estimated $1.62 billion in additional national revenue.
