Origin Energy (Origin) has approved construction of a large-scale battery at the Mortlake Power Station in south-west Victoria, committing to an investment of approximately $400 million.
The Mortlake Power Station battery will have a capacity of 300 MW, and is expected to deliver output of up to 650 MWh, helping to firm variable renewables supply and maintain reliable power for customers.
Origin CEO Frank Calabria said, “The Mortlake battery is another significant step in our ambition to lead the energy transition through cleaner energy and customer solutions.
“I am pleased to announce that contracts have been signed with global energy storage systems supplier Fluence and site preparation and civil works are expected to commence over coming months.
“Origin’s strategy is to accelerate renewable energy and storage in our portfolio and we expect large-scale batteries and other storage technologies to play a vital role in Australia’s energy transition.
The announcement follows our decision last year to approve Origin’s first large-scale battery at Eraring, which is currently under construction.
“With the proliferation of wind and solar farms, particularly in Victoria’s South West Renewable Energy Zone, the Mortlake battery will help keep the grid stable and support more renewable energy coming into the system as the market continues to decarbonise,” said Calabria.
Mortlake Power Station is the largest gas-fired power station in Victoria with a generation capacity of 566 MW. The peaking power station is powered by gas from the Otway Basin.
The project has been awarded conditional grant support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of its Large Scale Battery Storage Funding Round.
The battery is expected to be commissioned late in 2026.