Origin Energy will spend $600 million to develop a large-scale battery at the site of the soon-to-close Eraring coal power station, as future owner Brookfield supports acceleration of its transition away from fossil fuels.

Origin flagged its intention to build a battery when it announced in February 2022 that it intended to shutter Eraring – Australia’s largest coal power generator that supplies about a quarter of NSW’s energy needs – in 2025. The company said on Thursday it has made a final investment decision to proceed with the 460MW battery.