Federal Labor approves one of the world's largest batteries to power 1 million Victorian homes

The Federal Labor Government has approved a new renewable energy hub in Plumpton, Victoria which will power over 1 million households.

The Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub will build the largest battery system in Asia - one of the largest in the world. It will store wind, hydro and solar energy from regional Victoria and includes a 2.4GWh battery.

This is another step towards building a renewables future. The project will be able to store the extra energy generated by solar panels on Victorian roofs, helping to deliver reliable renewable energy for Victoria. 

This isn’t just great for the environment, it’s good for local jobs. This hub will create up to 365 jobs over construction and a further 30 ongoing positions. It also includes the construction of a solar farm.

More than ten years of political fights about climate change cost Australia big time. It meant emissions were higher for longer. It put renewable energy projects years behind.

Labor is acting fast to make up for that lost decade. We’re focused on the huge task of rebuilding our entire energy system to make Australia a renewable energy superpower. 

The project has been approved following assessment under Australia’s environment law, with strict conditions to protect the local environment and minimise impact to local habitat.

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek:

“We know renewable energy is cheaper, cleaner, and crucial to helping us cut emissions and reach our goal of net zero by 2050. Projects like this will help us transform our energy system and build it for the future.

“We’re undoing a decade of political fights that stalled progress and cost the environment. This is what action on climate change looks like – cutting emissions, investing in renewables, and better protecting our environment.”