Community
10 October, 2024
Solar farm outside Mortlake fast-tracked
THE $700 million Mortlake Energy Hub has received the greenlight to be fast-tracked in its delivery.
The project has been fast-tracked through the Victorian Government’s new streamlined pathway, which aims to provide cheap renewable energy for Victorian households.
Renewable energy developer BrightNight has received the green light to begin construction of the Mortlake Energy Hub, which will be located on an expansive 677-hectare site spanning between Connewarren Lane and the Hamilton Highway.
The project will combine a 360-megawatt, 600,000 panel solar energy facility with a 300-megawatt battery energy storage system.
Once completed, the Mortlake Energy Hub will be capable of powering 140,000 homes and cutting emissions by 41.4 million tonnes annually.
Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio said the project would support the Victorian Government’s efforts to generate affordable, clean energy.
“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,” she said.
The BrightNight project is expected to create around 300 construction jobs and leverage the existing Mortlake Terminal Station to store energy and solar power and release it into the grid when it’s needed – delivering more affordable and renewable energy.
As Western District Newspapers reported in August, the project received a greenlight from the Australian Energy Market Operator for connection.
This year, the project was among those to became eligible for the Labor Government’s Development Facilitation Program pathway – ensuring more cleaner and cheaper energy projects get off the ground faster.
Acting Minister for Planning Colin Brooks said the streamlined approach to getting renewable energy projects operational would provide a boost for the wider community.
“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,” he said,
The project is among those vital in achieving Victoria’s renewable energy targets of 65 per cent by 2030 and 95 per cent by 2035, and will be supported by energy storage targets of at least 2.6 gigawatts by 2030 and 6.3 gigawatts by 2035.
Achieving Victoria’s renewable energy targets is expected to create 59,000 jobs and deliver $9.5 billion in economic development to help the state reach net zero emissions by 2045.