A new milestone in Victoria’s renewable energy journey has been reached with the official opening of the 100 Megawatt Latrobe Valley Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), adding significant capacity to the state’s expanding network of big batteries.
Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio launched the latest battery facility situated adjacent to the Morwell terminal station in the Latrobe Valley.
Developed and operated by Tilt Renewables, a leader in Australia’s wind and solar generation, the Latrobe Valley BESS will supply affordable electricity to local homes and businesses while enhancing grid reliability.
“This is another renewable energy win for the Latrobe Valley, helping more homes and businesses benefit from this project, including lower bills and having a more secured power supply,” D’Ambrosio said at the opening.
The battery stores electricity to be dispatched during peak demand periods, a key function that supports grid stability, cuts energy costs, and ensures safe and reliable power for residential and commercial users.
Energy storage is pivotal to Victoria’s transition to renewable electricity, and the Latrobe Valley project forms part of the government’s legislated target to achieve at least 2.6 gigawatts of storage capacity by 2030, with a longer-term goal of 6.3 gigawatts by 2035.
Victoria currently leads Australia with 12 large-scale energy storage facilities boasting a total output capacity of 1028 MW.
The Latrobe Valley BESS complements other major projects in the state, such as the 300 MW Victorian Big Battery and the 600 MW Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub.
“This battery will increase electricity supply in peak demand periods and lower power prices for everyone,” commented Tom McIntosh, Member for Eastern Victoria.
The Victorian government continues to champion investment in battery and energy storage initiatives, fostering an environment where the industry can thrive and innovation in renewable energy can accelerate.
Energy Minister D’Ambrosio added: “Energy storage is critical to the transition – and we’re making great progress towards our first renewable energy storage target of at least 2.6 GW by 2030.”
The Latrobe Valley Battery Energy Storage System stands as a significant addition to Victoria’s renewable energy infrastructure, supporting both the local community and the state’s clean energy future.
