The name of Eraring may yet become synonymous with Australia’s energy future, as it transitions away from coal-based power and looks to new generation and storage facilities.
The baseload coal plant earmarked to close next year will also be the home to the largest battery energy storage system in the southern hemisphere, capable of utilising an average of 4.5 hours of energy for each stage and is expected to be completed by 2027.
The first phase of Origin Energy’s Eraring BESS (battery energy storage system) was recently made operational, with the first battery unit boasting 460MW/1770MWh of storage.
The key market operator, AEMO’s 2025 Transition Plan for System Security, last year outlined its strategy to ensure energy security during the transition with closures of major assets like Eraring and noted grid-forming BESS would be increasingly important, providing “frequency control, voltage stability and some aspects of system strength”.
Core part of the future
Origin executive general manager – energy supply and operations, Greg Jarvis said in a social media post the latest phase was completed on time and budget with the help of contractor partners Wärtsilä, Enerven, Jacobs, Lumea and Transgrid.
In December, Origin approved the fourth stage of its large-scale battery at Eraring Power Station, taking the total size of the Eraring battery to a planned 700MW / 3,160MWh.
Origin has committed $80 million to construct the fourth stage of the project, which will lift the dispatch duration of stage two of the Eraring battery project to nearly six hours, allowing it to store electricity produced in the daytime such as from solar, for release when needed most.
Construction was scheduled to begin late 2025 and come online in the first quarter of the 2027 calendar year.
Origin reported the other stages of the project are also progressing on track.
“This next stage of the Eraring big battery adds 360 MWh of storage, building on the work now underway and strengthening the site’s status as the largest approved battery energy storage system in the Southern Hemisphere.” Jarvis said.
“As Australia continues its energy transition, large-scale batteries will be essential for reliable supply of energy, supporting more renewables coming online and helping ease pressure on wholesale prices.
“Batteries can respond instantly to changes in supply and demand, which is why they’re becoming a core part of Australia’s renewable energy future.
Evening Peak
“We’re excited to add additional storage capacity at Eraring to cover the evening peak – the period of highest electricity demand – as we continue to transform the site to support the reliability and security of electricity supply through the energy transition.
“When complete, Australia’s largest power station site will host the nation’s largest approved battery storage system, reinforcing Eraring’s role as critical infrastructure at the centre of Australia’s energy system for decades to come,” Mr Jarvis said.
Origin has committed to developing or contracting 1.7 GW in owned and tolled large-scale battery projects, including at Eraring, Mortlake Power Station in Victoria, the Summerfield battery storage project in South Australia and the Supernode battery in Queensland.
Battery equipment for stage four of the Eraring battery will be supplied by Finnish technology group Wärtsilä and design and construction services will be provided by Enerven.
