The second stage development of the large-scale battery at Eraring Power Station has been approved, with a $450 million investment from Origin Energy.
The second stage of the Eraring battery will add a 240MW/1030MWh four-hour duration grid-forming battery to the 460MW/1073MWh two-hour duration first stage battery development already under construction at the site and anticipated to come online at the end of the 2025 calendar year. The combined energy storage of the stage one and stage two batteries will be more than 2GWh, enabling Origin to help keep the grid stable and support more variable renewable energy coming into the system.
Origin has executed agreements for equipment supply and construction, with works on the second stage scheduled to begin early in the 2025 calendar year. Stage two is anticipated to come online in the first quarter of the 2027 calendar year.
Origin Head of Energy Supply and Operations, Greg Jarvis said, “We are pleased to have approved Origin’s third investment in a large-scale battery at one of our existing power stations, which reflects our belief that storage will play an important role in the changing grid by helping to firm up variable supply from wind and solar.
“The second stage of the Eraring battery will be over four-hours duration and it will be capable of absorbing excess solar generation during the day to support reliable energy supply when needed, such as through the evening peak.
“Eraring is a strategic site with high-quality connection infrastructure. Confirmation of the second stage of the Eraring battery development is a key next step as we look to transform the site for the future so it can continue to support the energy transition,” Mr Jarvis said.
Battery equipment for stage two of the Eraring project will be supplied by Finnish technology group Wärtsilä, with design and construction services to be provided by Enerven Energy Infrastructure (Enerven).
Origin has now committed to more than 1.5GW of large-scale batteries across its three owned projects at Eraring and Mortlake, along with tolling agreements for the offtake of the Supernode battery stages one and two.
Eraring is Australia’s largest power station and supplies up to a quarter of the electricity supply in New South Wales. Eraring is scheduled to close in August 2027 as part of an agreement with the New South Wales Government to support the security of supply through the transition, and while there remains uncertainty regarding the timing of transmission, renewables and firming infrastructure coming online.
Featured image: Origin Head of Energy Supply and Operations, Greg Jarvis, at the construction site of a large-scale battery at Eraring Power Station. Image: Origin Energy.
