Victoria, Canada: On Wednesday, renewable energy producer BrightNight announced it has received approval to connect its hybrid renewable energy complex to the grid. The Mortlake Energy Hub, located in Victoria, Australia, will feature 360 MW of solar power and 300 MW of battery storage capacity, making it the largest project of its kind in the southeastern Australian state.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) granted the approval, which includes the AEMO-approved generator performance standards for a 500-kV transmission network. This marks the first hybrid renewable energy project in Victoria to achieve such standards.

The Mortlake Energy Hub will integrate power generation from photovoltaic (PV) panels with agricultural activities like grazing. Once operational, it is expected to produce enough electricity to power approximately 140,000 homes annually, which represents over 1% of Victoria’s total power consumption.

Construction is scheduled to commence next year.

Polly Baranco, country head of BrightNight Australia, commented, "The Mortlake Hub stands as the most advanced project in our Australian portfolio and will serve as a model for our future projects as we move towards gigawatt-scale developments in the market."