Communities, companies and government are coming together to develop the integral infrastructure for a sustainable economy in Victoria. Renewable technologies are increasingly accessible in the shift towards a decarbonised circular economy.
Massive Origin battery
Origin energy is currently constructing a massive battery on the site of the decommissioned Mortlake Power Station.
The project will cost $400 million and boast an output capacity of 300 megawatts (MW) and be able to deliver up to 650 megawatts/hour (MWh) of energy. Upon completion it will be one of the largest batteries in Australia.
At full output, the battery can provide continuous power for just over two hours. However, by operating at lower outputs it can sustain a level of generation for longer times.
The decommissioned power station is an ideal site due to its adjacence to existing transmission infrastructure, sitting next to the Moorabool to Heywood 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line and within a Renewable Energy Zone in Victoria.
“When complete, the Mortlake battery will soak up and store excess renewable energy generated during the day and dispatch this energy into the grid during peak demand periods, which typically occur during the early evening when renewable supply tends to decrease.” Origin’s Head of Development and Construction Conal McCullough said.
McCollough added that it also has the potential to help stabilise the electricity grid as the existing fleet of large coal generators retires.
During the initial earthworks phase, around 40 direct jobs will be created, ramping up to approximately 90 during the main construction and installation.
Major wind farm approved near Horsham
A major new wind farm has been approved in north-west Victoria.
The Wimmera Plains Energy Facility, located 10km north-east of Horsham, will generate enough energy to power 202,000 Victorian homes.
The 312MW facility will feature up to 52 wind turbines connected to an existing 220kV transmission line. Additionally, the project includes a 100MW Battery Energy Storage system capable of storing up to 400MWh of dispatchable energy.
This development addresses the need for replacement energy capacity following the closure of coal-fired power plants.
The Wimmera Plains project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, comparable to removing more than 370,000 cars from the road each year.
It will also create up to 280 direct jobs during construction and 10 ongoing positions.
Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for the Environment and Water said the project demonstrates how strategic site selection can expedite environmental approvals.
Energy storage receives 100 Megapack batteries
The Koorangie Energy Storage System is a $480 million investment into Victoria’s energy grid.
Delivered by Edify Energy and Sosteneo, the project will provide critical energy storage capacity and allow up to 300 additional megawatts of renewable energy to be integrated into the Murray River region’s grid.
The project reached a significant renewable energy milestone with the delivery of 100 Tesla Megapacks. The large-scale rechargeable lithium-ion batteries will have a combined storage capacity of 185MW once operational in 2025.
With a single full charge, the Koorangie system will be capable of powering every home in the Gannawarra Shire Council area for over two weeks or the entire town of Kerang for more than a month.
“Projects like Koorangie are keeping the lights on for households across the state and are helping us move away from expensive fossil fuels and onto safer, affordable and more reliable renewable energy,” Lily D’Ambrosio, Victoria’s Energy Minister said.
Importantly, the project will employ cutting-edge “grid forming” inverter technology, allowing the battery system to provide the same grid stabilisation services historically provided by fossil fuel generators.
Victoria has legislated targets of at least 2.6 gigawatts (GW) of energy storage by 2030.
Iberdrola makes strides in renewables
Iberdrola Australia has been officially awarded a feasibility license for a 3GW Aurora Green offshore wind farm project, set to be located at least 25km off the coast between Mcloughlins Beach and Seaspray.
Iberdrola predicts Aurora Green to have a substantial economic impact, with estimates suggesting it could create 600 long-lasting, skilled jobs during operation and over 1800 jobs during construction.
The feasibility license allows Iberdrola Australia to conduct a detailed assessment to progress the project, which is expected to provide an $8 billion boost to the Victorian economy and has the potential to power up to 2.25 million households with clean energy.
Apart from massive projects like Aurora Green, Iberdrola Australia is demonstrating its ability to tackle smaller-scale, technically challenging projects through its Smart Energy Solutions division.
The company has been engaged by Adelaide Airport Limited to design and install a 2.35MW solar PV system on the airport’s main terminal roof, almost tripling the airport’s solar system.
Iberdrola adapted its ‘Life Essentials’ safety policy to meet Adelaide Airport’s unique requirements for its solar installation project. Strategic measures included careful equipment handling, and enhanced security.
Elgin Energy’s solar expansion
Elgin Energy has secured approval to construct a solar and battery farm near the town of Elaine.
Located approximately 120km west of Melbourne, the Elaine Solar Farm will feature around 230,000 ground-mounted solar panels spanning a 600-acre site, capable of generating 150MW of solar energy.
The solar farm is Elign’s largest hybrid project to date, and will produce enough clean, renewable electricity to power approximately 60,000 Victorian homes.
Additionally, the project is expected to create around 150 construction jobs and up to three permanent positions over its projected 40-year operational lifespan.
The approval of the solar farm comes as part of Elgin’s rapid Australian expansion, with the company building a battery energy storage system in Gippsland and receiving authorisation to develop the Shady Creek Solar Farm.
Origin x RES offshore wind project
The Federal Government has awarded a feasibility license to the Origin x RES joint venture offshore wind project.
The Navigator North project is located in Gippsland, approximately 34km from shore and covering 700km km2.
The project has the potential to generate 1.5GW of power.
It is expected to create approximately 1400 jobs during its design and construction phase, with an additional 60 long-term positions over its 30-year operational life.
Greg Jarvis, Origin’s head of energy supply and operations, said the approval was a testimony to the strengths and the commitments of the joint venture.
“Origin is the nation’s largest energy retailer with 4.7 million customer accounts, owns a suite of generation assets across Australia’s East Coast, and has deep expertise right across the Australian energy and policy landscape.
RES brings extensive global experience across the full lifecycle of offshore and onshore wind farms and other renewable energy technologies.
“Together, we will look to develop a competitive wind project that we believe could provide material renewable supply to the energy market.”
The joint venture plans to establish community engagement initiatives, including a community benefit fund, a neighbourhood benefits sharing scheme, and a local energy discount program.
Renewable regional town
Over a decade’s worth of community effort has powered Newstead’s efforts towards its goal of 100 per cent renewable energy.
The idea for the solar and battery project was first proposed by the community in 2009. A 2018 $1.1 million government grant and partnership with developer Flow Power finally allowed the project to open this August.
“The Newstead Energy Project is the first of its kind for Victoria and a powerful template for how community, government and industry can work together to propel the energy transition forward.” Flow Power CEO Matthew van der Linden said.
The Newstead project stands out due to its community driven development, with locals arranging the site, funding and company for the project. Flow Power utilised local contractors during construction and will establish a community fund with ongoing benefits.
The opt-in farm aims to provide cheap, equitable access to renewable energy, encouraging locals to join through competitive pricings and environmental benefits.
The project is one of 50 large-scale solar farms either operational, under construction or soon to be commissioned across Victoria, with the government also rolling out 100 neighbourhood battery installations across the state.
Victoria’s State Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio said the government is supporting regional Victoria to make the most out of the renewable energy transition.
“We’re empowering the Newstead community – and other communities like it – to fully harness the benefits of locally generated and stored renewable energy.”
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