Earlier this week, Fluence Energy announced it had been selected by Origin Energy to deploy a 300 MW / 650 MWh battery at the Mortlake Power Station in Victoria, Australia.
According to Fluence, the project will incorporate Fluence’s Gridstack™ energy storage product, and the battery station will come with a 15-year service agreement. Additionally, the system will leverage Fluence’s AI-powered asset performance management (APM) software, Nispera™, to enhance the operational performance of the battery.
Mortlake Power Station Battery – Details
Mortlake Power Station - About the Existing Power Plant
The Mortlake Power Station stands as the largest gas-fired power station in Southwest Victoria, boasting a generation capacity of 566 MW. Fueled by gas sourced from the Otway Basin, the power station is situated on approximately 20 hectares of land, encompassing a substantial buffer zone.
Despite having approvals for a capacity of around 1,000 MW (1,300,000 hp), the facility was constructed to deliver 566 MW. It is positioned adjacent to the existing Moorabool to Heywood 500 kV high voltage transmission line.
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Mortlake Power Station Battery - Origin's Strategy
Origin CEO Frank Calabria stated that the Mortlake battery represents another notable advancement in their aspiration to lead the energy transition through cleaner energy and customer solutions.
Origin’s strategic focus is on expediting the integration of renewable energy and storage within its portfolio, anticipating a pivotal role for large-scale batteries and other storage technologies in Australia’s energy transition.
In light of the growing number of wind and solar farms, especially within Victoria’s South West Renewable Energy Zone, the Mortlake battery is positioned to contribute to grid stability.
Mr. Calabria emphasized that the battery will play a crucial role in supporting the integration of additional renewable energy into the system as the market continues its decarbonization efforts.
In April 2023, Origin Energy made a final investment decision regarding the initial phase of a large-scale battery at the Eraring Power Station, with an investment of $600 million. The project was structured as a staged development, with the first phase entailing the construction of a 460 MW battery storage system with a dispatch duration of two hours.
Suggested Reading: Final Investment Decision (FID): What is it? How it Works?
Mortlake Power Station - The New Battery System - Details
The Mortlake Power Station battery is designed with a capacity of 300 MW, aiming to generate up to 650 MWh of output, comprising an AUD 400 million investment. This capacity is intended to enhance the stability of variable renewable energy sources and ensure a reliable power supply for customers.
The commencement of site preparation and civil works for the Mortlake Battery is expected to follow a phase of detailed design and procurement activities. The energy storage system’s commissioning is anticipated to occur in late 2026.
Origin confirmed that the project has received conditional grant support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of its Large Scale Battery Storage Funding Round.
According to Fluence, the battery provider, the batteries for the project will incorporate its Gridstack™ technology. This technology is designed to facilitate more efficient and cost-effective project deployments by combining the advantages of mass production with the adaptability of a highly configurable system architecture. This approach ensures alignment with local market dynamics and specific customer requirements.
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