Origin Energy : marks Mortlake big battery milestone

About this update from Origin Energy Limited

Origin has marked the official completion of the 300 MW / 650 MWh Mortlake Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at an event held at the Mortlake Power Station. The milestone caps almost two years of construction and marks a major step in the transformation of the Mortlake site, cementing its role at the heart of the region's energy system for decades to come. Origin Executive Generation Manager, Energy Supply and Operations, Andrew Thornton said, "Completing the Mortlake battery is a proud moment for Origin and everyone who has worked on this project over the past two years. "The Mortlake battery will play an important role in supporting the security of the grid and firming the growing volume of renewable energy in south-west Victoria, so we can keep delivering reliable energy supply for households and businesses. "Batteries are ideally placed to soak up excess solar and wind generation during the day and discharge it when the grid needs it, usually during the evening peak, helping keep wholesale electricity prices down. "Completing the Mortlake battery ahead of schedule reflects the strength of our project partners and the hard work of teams from right across Origin, who have not only delivered this project but worked to seamlessly integrate it into the systems and processes that support our broader generation portfolio," Mr Thornton said. Origin approved the investment of approximately $400 million in the Mortlake battery in January 2024, with construction formally commencing in August 2024. The commencement of construction marked the start of a dedicated community investment fund that has committed over $100,000 in support of initiatives benefiting the local community. The Mortlake BESS uses grid-forming inverters, enabling the asset to provide critical system strength services, helping to keep the grid stable as more renewable generation comes online and coal generators retire. The project was delivered with support from key delivery partners: Fluence Energy supplied and installed the battery technology; SMA provided the grid-forming inverters; RJE Global delivered civil and electrical works; and AusNet delivered the grid connection assets. The project also received conditional grant funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) through its Large-Scale Battery Storage Funding Round. Mortlake forms part of Origin's 1.3 GW / 4 GWh portfolio of owned and contracted grid-scale batteries, which also includes Eraring (NSW) and Supernode (Qld). Mortlake Power Station is the largest gas-fired power station in Victoria, with a generation capacity of 566 MW.

View stock analysis, news, and events for Origin Energy Limited