Origin Energy Ltd has announced plans to expand its 460-megawatt/1,073-megawatt-hour Eraring battery project in New South Wales, committing AUD 450 million to the second stage of the initiative. The expansion aims to enhance the facility's capacity and support the transition from coal-fired power.
The initial phase of the Eraring battery project, located approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Newcastle in the Lake Macquarie local government area, is set to be completed by the end of 2025. The two-hour duration facility will be designed to absorb excess solar energy during daylight hours.
The second phase of the project will add an additional 240 megawatts/1,030 megawatt-hours of capacity, extending the discharge period to four hours. Finnish technology group Wartsila Corp will provide the technology for this phase, while Enerven Energy Infrastructure will manage the design and construction. Construction for the second phase is scheduled to commence in early 2025, with operations expected to start in the first quarter of 2027.
The Eraring coal-fired power station, which was initially slated for closure in 2025, has been extended to operate until August 2027. The battery project is part of Origin Energy's strategy to replace the coal station's capacity and support grid stability with renewable energy sources. Planning approval for 700 megawatts of battery storage at the Eraring site was granted in May 2022.
