Yanara has awarded Gamuda Australia the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the first stage of the Mortlake Energy Hub being developed in southwest Victoria, paving the way for the hybrid project to move into construction.
The $790 million (USD 554 million) contract covers the design, procurement, construction, installation, testing and commissioning of the facility. Gamuda said it also expects to soon secure an operation and maintenance (O&M) contract worth $45 million.
The signing of the EPC contract comes after Yanara late last year appointed Gamuda under an early contractor involvement (ECI) arrangement, a phase that enabled the partners to advance designs, undertake procurement and commence construction planning.
The Mortlake Energy Hub (MEH) is to combine 450 MW of solar generation with a 600 MW / 2,400 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) and is expected to be built across two stages.
In a statement, Gamuda said Stage 1 of the integrated hybrid project will include 435 MWp solar and a 300 MW, 4.5-hour duration battery energy storage system (BESS), although that battery capacity does not reconcile with the 1,449 MWh included in the contract disclosure and is an increase from the 1,200 MWh specification Gamuda previously gave for Stage 1. The project is to connect to Victoria’s 500 kV network via the existing Mortlake Terminal Station.
While the specifics of the technologies have yet to be confirmed, Yanara Australia Chief Executive Officer David Delmas said the project represents one of the region’s most significant clean energy investments, noting that by combining solar generation with battery storage, the facility will provide greater flexibility to Victoria’s electricity system as renewable energy accounts for a growing share of the state’s generation mix.
“Beyond its scale, MEH represents the next generation of clean energy infrastructure, combining renewable generation and storage to deliver reliable, dispatchable power while creating lasting economic value for local communities and Victoria’s energy future,” he said.
Victoria is targeting a 65% renewable energy share by 2030 and 95% by 2035, as well as aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.
Early works are expected to begin on the Mortlake Energy Hub in the coming weeks with main construction works scheduled to commence in November.
The project is scheduled to be energised in April 2028, with operations expected to commence in the first quarter of 2029. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to generate enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of about 200,000 homes.
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