Origin Energy has announced the expansion of its large-scale battery at Eraring Power Station in New South Wales, positioning it as the largest battery energy storage system in the Southern Hemisphere.
The addition of a third stage to the project underscores Origin’s commitment to bolstering grid stability amid growing renewable energy integration.
The third stage will contribute 700 megawatts-hour (MWh) of storage, enhancing the first stage’s 460 MW/1070 MWh and the second stage’s 240 MW/1030 MWh currently under construction.
Once completed, the Eraring battery will boast a combined capacity of 700 MW/2800 MWh, making it one of the world’s largest battery energy storage systems.
Origin’s head of energy supply and operations, Greg Jarvis said the construction of the third stage of the Eraring battery further increases the company’s energy storage footprint.
“The scale of this project is impressive. The site, at more than 17 hectares, is equivalent in area to 24 soccer fields and once complete, it will host more than 2000 individual battery enclosures and some 180km of cabling. At 2800MWh, when cycled once a day, the Eraring battery will dispatch enough energy to power more than 150,000 NSW households annually, helping to firm variable supply from wind and solar,” Jarvis said.
“Transforming the Eraring site to play an important role in contributing to the reliability and security of electricity supply as we progress through the energy transition is a priority for Origin. Upon completion, Australia’s largest power station will be host to the nation’s largest approved battery storage system, cementing Eraring as a critical piece infrastructure at the heart of Australia’s energy system for decades to come.
“The global scale of the battery storage system under construction and the incredible work our highly skilled teams and contractors are undertaking is something the region can be incredibly proud of.”
This development is a key part of Origin’s strategy to expand its energy storage capabilities. The company has committed to 1GW of large-scale battery capacity across its projects at Eraring and Mortlake Power Station in Victoria.
Additionally, Origin has secured tolling agreements for the 500MW Supernode battery in Queensland, set to begin operations in 2026.
Stage three of the Eraring battery is scheduled to come online by late 2025, alongside stage one. Stage two is expected to be operational by early 2027. Finnish technology group Wärtsilä will supply the battery equipment, with Enerven providing design and construction services.
Origin’s investment in storage, including the grid-forming Mortlake battery, represents approximately $1.7 billion. The Mortlake facility, adjacent to Victoria’s largest gas-fired power station, is anticipated to be operational by late 2026.
As Eraring Power Station, responsible for up to a quarter of NSW’s electricity supply, approaches its planned closure in August 2027, the expanded battery will play a critical role in maintaining energy reliability during the state’s transition to renewable power sources.
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