A new project in Malaga, Perth, is set to strengthen Western Australia’s wind energy supply chain by establishing advanced manufacturing capability for the repair, overhaul, and testing of large wind turbine generators thanks to backing from the Western Australian Government and the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC).
With the support of $500,000 in co-funding through the Western Australian Government’s Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program, National Electric Motor Services (NEMS) will deliver a $1 million project to establish an OEM-aligned repair and testing facility for wind turbine generators within Western Australia. This facility will reduce the reliance on international service providers and significantly improve turnaround times for wind farm operators who currently need to send generator components overseas for repair.
The Malaga facility will leverage NEMS’ existing expertise in low- and high-voltage motor repair for the mining and energy sectors and expand its capabilities to include heavy lifting and handling, automated high-capacity testing, thermal processing, and advanced quality assurance systems for the wind energy sector. This will enable the delivery of end-to-end local repair services that meet global wind energy infrastructure standards.
Amber-Jade Sanderson, Western Australia Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation, said: “The Cook Labor Government is delivering an energy transition that’s Made In WA. We’ve invested more than $5.5 million in the local renewable sector through the Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment program, stimulating more than $14 million in investment.
“This program is about putting WA first and supporting our growing wind energy sector, while creating quality local manufacturing jobs.”, said Sanderson.
NEMS has secured formal approval from a global wind energy component supplier to deliver after-sales support in Western Australia and is the State’s only authorised service centre for ELIN Motoren, positioning the project as a strategically important and differentiated value proposition within the local market.
Beyond servicing wind farms, the uplift in technology will benefit the mining and industrial power generation sectors helping build Western Australia’s advanced manufacturing base, create skilled jobs, and underwriting the State’s transition to renewable energy.
Damir Kuduzovic, Managing Director of National Electric Motor Services, said: “This project through the support from the Western Australian Government and AMGC will enable our company to expand its breadth of capabilities and the accreditations required to work with larger electric generators from global wind infrastructure providers
“This project is about growing our business and ensuring that we have a diversified operation that is well placed to support the aspirations of Western Australia and the job opportunities renewable energy presents now and into the future.”
The project will deliver wide-ranging benefits to Western Australia, including the creation of 20 new, highly skilled jobs, workforce upskilling, and reducing emissions and transport costs as a result of manufacturing closer to project sites, and strengthening supply chain resilience through onshoring critical infrastructure.
Ellen McGarrity, State Director Western Australia, AMGC, said: “Our partnership with the Western Australian Government is building momentum and capability across the local wind energy supply chain. Led by National Electric Motor Services, this fifth project continues to showcase the depth of Western Australian manufacturing talent and how targeted support helps SMEs diversify into new opportunities in wind energy.”
Administered by AMGC, the NEMS project is the fifth business to receive co-investment through the $8 million Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program, launched in late 2024. Previous projects have supported the diversification of existing manufacturers into wind tower anchor cage production, transition flange manufacturing and refurbishment, bearing inspection and maintenance, and electric motor coil winding.
Across all projects to date, the Program is expected to create over 120 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 170 industry projects, creating more than 4,400 jobs across the country. It has invested over $137 million of combined industry and Government funds into manufacturing projects, resulting in an estimated $1.72 billion in additional national revenue.
