Massive solar and battery hybrid project – dubbed first of its kind – secures grid approval

Floridabased renewable integrated power company BrightNight has says it has secured a first-of-its-kind grid approval for a massive solar and battery storage hybrid energy project in Victoria.

The connection approval from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is for the Mortlake Energy Hub, which will combine a 360 megawatt (MW) agrivoltaic solar project with a 300 MW/600 MWh battery system. Newly introduced rules make it possible to have the two technologies combine at the same connection point.

The Mortlake Energy Hub is BrightNight’s first hybrid renewable energy project in Australia and is expected to incorporate a dual-use agrivoltaic component – though BrightNight says it is still evaluating the best option that suits both land and supports local needs.

The Mortlake Energy Hub will connect through a substation equipped with transformers to be built to the east of the existing Mortlake terminal station.

The company hopes to begin construction in 2025, and BrightNight says it is the first hybrid renewable energy project in Victoria to secure AEMO-approved generator performance standards along the 500-kilovolt transmission network.

“Getting grid approval from AEMO for the Mortlake Hub is a testament to the expertise and innovation that the BrightNight team brings to Australia and allows us to start showcasing this great project to customers,” said Polly Baranco, country head for BrightNight Australia.

“The Mortlake Hub is the most advanced project in BrightNight’s Australia portfolio and provides a blueprint for our upcoming projects as we approach gigawatt-scale buildout in the market.”

See Renew Economy’s Big Battery Storage Map of Australia for more information on this and other projects.