Origin Energy has chosen Wärtsilä as the preferred contractor to deliver the first phase 460MW energy storage project at its Eraring Power Station in New South Wales, Australia.
The order is expected to be booked latest in the third quarter of 2023 and equipment delivery is due from October 2023 to September 2024.
The Eraring battery will be connected to Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) and support energy security and reliability in the state of New South Wales as the penetration of variable renewable energy supply increases.
Origin may elect to expand the battery to 700MW.
“With significant solar and wind resources, Australia is in a unique position to rapidly decarbonise its energy sector,” said Wärtsilä president and chief executive Håkan Agnevall. “Flexible capacity, provided by energy storage projects like Origin’s Eraring battery or grid balancing engines, will be vital to achieving that as the share of renewables increases.
“The scale of this project positions Wärtsilä at the heart of that trend, delivering gigawatt-scale energy storage projects in each of our key markets around the world.”
Head of energy supply and operations at Origin Energy Greg Jarvis added: “Eraring is a strategic site with high quality connection infrastructure enabling us to deliver energy into major demand centres.
“Development of the battery is a key next step as we look to transform the Eraring site for the future, given our intention to exit coal-fired generation by as early as August 2025.”