Community
28 August, 2025
Upgrades underway at power station
MAJOR works are set to begin at the Mortlake Power Station in a bid to harness the region’s energy capacity.
Origin Energy is set to begin a maintenance overhaul on one of two generating units at its Mortlake gas-fired power station while construction continues on the adjacent large-scale battery project.
Mobilisation is expected to kick off in the coming days with equipment and material, including a specialised 750-tonne crane, arriving on site.
A contractor workforce of 200 will operate around the clock in two shifts from early September through to mid-October.
The overhaul, which has been more than two years in the planning, will see teams disassemble the full turbine on site and remove key components like the turbine rotor for thorough inspection and repairs.
The project also includes upgrades to instrumentation and control systems, boosting response times and enabling faster ramp-up to full output – critical for adapting to fluctuations in electricity supply and demand.
Mortlake Power Station manager David Ellison said specialist parts will be sourced from around the world but local businesses will play a key role where possible.
“As a peaking plant, Mortlake’s units must start and stop quickly to meet spikes in demand and shifts in renewable output,” he said.
“These works will ensure safe, reliable operations – especially as more renewables enter the grid.
“We’re proud to involve local firms like Waremac, R&M Security and Tasweld.
“We’re also encouraging workers to support Mortlake businesses for supplies during their commute from Warrnambool.”
Meanwhile, progress continues on the site’s 300MW battery, which is expected to deliver an output of 650MWh.
All major components, including two massive transformers which were delivered in July, are now on site – paving the way for commissioning and testing with the battery expected to be operational in late 2026.
Commissioned in August 2012, Mortlake Power Station remains Victoria’s largest gas-fired facility, with a generating capacity of 566MW.
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