The power station
The construction of a nominal 1,000 MW gas fired power station in south-western Victoria allows Origin to meet the growing electricity demand of its Victorian customers by using the company’s own gas reserves from that area. This will be constructed in two stages with the first stage of 550 MW gaining Origin Board approval on 4 July 2008.
Power station site
The site at Mortlake was chosen due to the advantages of:
- Access to the 500kV high voltage electricity transmission line
- Well serviced state highways and roads
- Suitable land for construction
- Close to gas reserves in the offshore Otway Basin where Origin has its own gas reserves.
Project benefits
Economic
- Multi-million dollar construction project
- Ongoing contribution to State’s economy once operating
- Opportunities for local businesses in the supply of goods and services (eg accommodation, fuel, food, construction materials, cleaning, equipment hire and security).
Energy supply
- Provision of 550 MW of extra generation to meet the growing electricity demand in Australia by 2010/11
- The power station site is close to major loads in western Victoria, reducing the need to transmit power from the Latrobe Valley and therefore reducing system losses
- Adds to the diversity of generation and gas supply, providing a better-balanced and more secure energy system for Victoria.
Environmental
- This first stage of the open cycle Mortlake power station will produce approximately 50% lower greenhouse gas emissions than existing brown coal-fired generators and 30% less greenhouse gas emissions than the latest technology black coal-fired power stations
- The second stage of the Mortlake power station, which is planned to be constructed using combined cycle gas turbine technology, would provide even greater greenhouse gas benefits with approximately 70% lower greenhouse gas emissions than existing brown coal-fired generators and 50% less emissions than the latest technology black coal-fired power stations.
Employment opportunities
- Expected to employ a peak workforce of 250 people during construction
- Long term employment of up to 10 people in the operation and maintenance of the power station for Stage 1 (with up to 30 people when Stage 2 is operating)
- Plus additional jobs generated by local business in the supply of goods and services.