The Department of Planning and Environment of New South Wales (NSW) government has approved the plan of Origin Energy Limited, Sydney-based electricity and natural gas company, to install an up to 700 MW/2,800 MWh energy storage facility at the site of its to-be-retired Eraring coal-fired power station (in 2025) in the NSW, Australia.
The project includes four hours of storage and is one of the largest of its kind in Australia. The scheme will be realised at a total investment of roughly AUD800 million. To be built around 40 km southwest of Newcastle, in the Lake Macquarie local government area, the Eraring lithium-ion battery system will be installed in three phases, with its construction expected to last about 54 months. The project also envisages the installation of a new 330 kV overhead transmission line. Origin Energy is currently working on finalising vendor negotiations and securing a transmissions connection agreement.