Big news for Eraring power station
12th January 2021
Origin Energy has today announced that it is moving ahead with plans to install a 700-megawatt battery at Eraring Power Station. This would be the biggest of its type in Australia and is a major step by a major energy provider in the transition to renewables. I believe the project requires an investment by Origin of more than a billion dollars. In simple terms, the battery would be used to store 700 megawatts of electricity from any source and send that power into the grid when needed. That energy could come from solar, wind, gas or any other energy source. Most importantly, it will help to drive down emissions as more renewables become available and better balance our electricity network. At the moment, the coal-fired Eraring Power Station is slated for closure in 2032, so it's great that Origin is committing to the Eraring site, investing in this type of energy production, storage and despatch now and transitioning to cleaner systems. As Origin says in its announcement below, the company is supporting an orderly transition away from coal-fired power, and this massive battery project will help to ensure that a reliable energy source is maintained in NSW.You can read the full statement issued by Origin here.