Hybrid solar and battery project dubbed first of its kind gets green light for construction

Plans to build a hybrid 360MW solar farm and 300MW, two-hour big battery in Mortlake in Victoria’s south west, have been cleared for construction after being given the all-clear by the state planning department this week.

The $700 million Mortlake Energy Hub is being developed on grazing land in Victoria’s Moyne Shire by Florida-based outfit BrightNight – a first for the company in Australia, which it hopes to have up and running in early 2027.

Victoria’s Allan Labor government said on Thursday that the solar and battery project now has the green light to begin construction, after being fast-tracked through the states new streamlined Development Facilitation Program pathway.

“This is another example of how we are getting more renewable energy projects off the ground faster – providing cheaper and cleaner power for more than a hundred thousand homes,” Victoria’s acting planning minister Colin Brooks said on Thursday.

The energy hub, which will incorporate a yet to be decided agrivoltaic component, is notable as one of the first hybrid projects in Australia – and the first in Victoria – to take advantage of new rules that make it possible to have the two technologies combine at the same connection point.

In July, the Mortlake Energy Hub won “first-of-a-kind” approval from the Australian Energy Market Operator for this hybrid connection, meeting generator performance standards for the 500-kilovolt transmission network, the state’s electricity backbone.

“The Hub’s advanced hybrid power plant controller system optimises power distribution between its solar photovoltaic plants and BESS, ensuring grid code compliance and allowing for tailored power dispatch,” BrightNight said in a statement at the time.

“The Mortlake Energy Hub will soak up locally generated renewable energy and pump it back into the grid when it’s needed most to support Victorian homes and businesses with cheaper energy,” state energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio said.

“This approval marks a major milestone for BrightNight as we expand across the Asia Pacific and accelerate our mission to decarbonise energy,” said Jerome Ortiz, CEO of BrightNight APAC.

“As Victoria’s largest hybrid renewable energy project, the Mortlake Hub will set a new benchmark and significantly contribute to Australia’s transition to a low-carbon future.”

The BrightNight project is expected to create around 300 construction jobs and leverage the existing Mortlake Terminal Station.

“The Mortlake Energy Hub is not just a cornerstone of energy innovation but also a catalyst for regional growth,” said Polly Baranco, country head of BrightNight Australia.

“We are committed to rigorous planning, high environmental standards, and building lasting relationships with the community.”