Global DLA Piper has advised US-based Fluence Energy (NASDAQ:FLNC) on the engineering, procurement, and construction contract relating to the Mortlake Power Station battery in Victoria.
Earlier this week, electricity and gas giant Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) enlisted Fluence to deliver a 300 megawatt / 650 megawatt-hour battery at the Mortlake Power Station in Victoria’s South West Renewable Energy Zone.
The energy system is expected to provide system strength to the power grid by capturing excess power during periods of high renewable generation and discharge to meet peak demand.
DLA Piper Partner Luke Westmore tells Mining.com.au the $400 million Mortlake Project is “one of the largest battery projects which is happening in Australia to date” in a sector he forecasts will see major activity in 2024.
“There’s going to be a huge amount of activity in the battery sector. It’s providing stability to the grid and then also another alternative energy source. So there’s a huge pipeline [of] projects coming up.”
“There’s going to be a huge amount of activity in the battery sector”
The DLA Piper Partner adds that Mortlake is a further demonstration that ‘large’ energy players are getting involved in the battery space.
Westmore is a projects and infrastructure lawyer known for his in-depth expertise and active participation within the energy sector.
Site preparation and civil works of the Mortlake Battery are expected to begin following a period of detailed design and procurement activity. Mortlake is scheduled to be commissioned in late 2026.
The project will use Fluence’s Gridstack energy storage product with a 15-year service agreement, contributing to Origin’s strategy to accelerate renewable energy and energy storage in its portfolio.
Fluence’s Gridstack technology provides utilities, developers, and independent power producers with factory-built, configurable, market-ready solutions to deliver the most common front-of-the-metre applications.
The Mortlake system will also utilise Fluence’s artificial intelligence (AI)-powered asset performance management software, Nispera, to optimise the battery’s operational performance.
Nispera is a technology that works to maximise the value of solar, wind, hydro, and storage assets from any provider by going beyond asset performance management.
Fluence Energy offers energy storage products, services, and optimisation software for renewables and storage, with a presence in 47 markets globally.
DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers in more than 40 countries.
Write to Adam Drought at Mining.com.au
Images: Fluence and Origin Energy
