Origin battery application says Eraring closure now scheduled for 2028, but company says it is an error

An application from Origin Energy to build what would be the biggest battery in Queensland states that the closure date for the Eraring coal fired generator in NSW, the biggest in the country, is now scheduled for August, 2028, But the company insists it is an error.

A 2028 closure date would represent a three year delay to the current schedule of August, 2025, although there has been considerable speculation that the closure of the 2,880 MW plant will be at least partially delayed for a year or two, or even wholly delayed for up to four or five years.

Neither Origin nor the NSW government, with whom it is negotiating, have given a hint of what has been agreed, even though the closure date is now just 15 months away. But there has been plenty of speculation, given the importance of the decision, whichever way it goes.

“Origin has committed to phasing out coal with the EPS anticipated for closure in August 2028,” the company writes in an application for EPBC approval for its proposed Darling Downs battery in Queensland, which would be the state’s biggest at 500 MW and four hours of storage, or a total of 2,000 MWh.

However, a company spokesperson said the date cited in the application is an error.

Origin has strict market requirements to inform various authorities, including the Australian Energy Market Operator, of any changes to advised closure dates. These are usually revealed first in AEMO’s generation information page, which is where Renew Economy last year broke the story of the closure delay for the 1.3 GW Vales Point coal generator.

The Darling Downs battery will be located next to the Braemar sub station, and close to the Western Downs gas fired power generator the company operates. Origin says it intends to start construction in mid 2025 with a view to completion in 2027.

Origin has already announced plans to build big batteries at the site of its Eraring coal fired generator, and next to its Mortlake gas generator in Victoria.

The first stage of the Eraring battery will be sized at 460 MW and 920 MW, although there is potential to grow the battery capacity to 700 MW and four hours of storage, or 2,800 MWh. The Mortlake battery is sized at 300 MW and 650 MWh.

The Darling Downs battery has been flagged in Origin’s development pipeline for some time, and it has made clear that it needed to make amendments to its permit before going ahead with construction.

“Origin proposes to construct and operate the BESS, to increase Queensland based system strength and storage assets, which provides security to Queensland’s energy supply,” it notes in its application.

“Origin has an established operations and maintenance team for the Darling Downs Power Station and a BESS connected to the Braemar substation would permit the unlocking of further renewables now and into the future.”

See also Renew Economy’s Big Battery Storage Map of Australia.