Victoria has added a new 100 MW battery energy storage system in the Latrobe Valley, bolstering grid stability and supporting the state’s renewable energy transition.
The Latrobe Valley BESS (Battery Energy Storage System), developed and operated by Tilt Renewables, was officially opened this week beside the Morwell terminal station.
The facility has an initial capacity of 100 megawatts (MW)/200 megawatt-hours (MWh) and is designed to store excess energy – particularly from solar during the day – for dispatch in peak demand periods.
The project represents a significant technical milestone, marking the first deployment globally of the full Fluence product ecosystem with its OS7 operating system.
The system integrates Gridstack hardware, Mosaic AI-powered bidding software, and Nispera performance management technology.
“Latrobe Valley BESS is the first project globally to deploy the full Fluence product ecosystem… all working together to maximise performance, value, and resilience,” said Fluence General Manager Jason Beer.
Tilt Renewables CEO Anthony Fowler credited strong collaboration for the project’s delivery.
“This project wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible efforts of our team, the support of the Latrobe Valley community, and the expertise of our delivery partners Fluence, AEMO, and AusNet,” he said.
Construction created 45 direct jobs and 240 indirect roles, with three ongoing operational positions established.
Key partners included Zenviron (balance of plant works), Wilson Transformers (connection asset transformer), LAI (switchroom manufacturing), and TwoMorrows Electrical.
“This battery is a powerful symbol of our commitment to a cleaner, more reliable energy future,” said Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio said.
“It will help us meet our ambitious 95 per cent renewable energy target by 2035 and ensure Victorians have access to affordable, secure power.”
The Latrobe Valley BESS adds to Victoria’s existing portfolio of 12 large-scale batteries, with a combined capacity of over 1 GW.
It will play a role in helping Victoria meet legislated storage targets of 2.6 GW by 2030 and 6.3 GW by 2035.
Tilt Renewables operates 1.9 GW of renewable assets across Australia and is advancing a 5 GW development pipeline.
The company describes the Latrobe Valley project as a cornerstone investment in regional clean energy infrastructure and a driver for local economic transition.