300 MW / 650 MWh Battery Energy Storage System | Victoria, Australia

Mortlake: Grid-Forming Technology Proven at Scale

Battery power

Energy capacity

SMA inverter units

Sunny Central Storage 3800 UP

Grid connection

AusNet | Mortlake switchyard

Objectives

Support grid stability and resilience as renewable generation increases.
Enable reliable operation under challenging network conditions.
Integrate grid-forming capability into a transmission-connected battery project.

Solution

116 SMA Sunny Central Storage 3800 UP inverters providing advanced grid-forming capabilities.
Inverter technology enabling the battery system to support essential power system stability functions.
Configurable grid-forming controls for different network requirements.

Outcomes

Grid-forming capability integrated into a utility-scale battery connected to the 500 kV transmission network.
Supporting grid stability and the integration of increasing levels of renewable generation.
Battery completed ahead of schedule.
Providing valuable technical learnings for future grid-forming battery projects.

At Origin Energy’s 300 MW / 650 MWh Mortlake Battery Energy Storage System in Victoria, 116 SMA Sunny Central Storage inverters provide advanced grid-forming capabilities that enable the battery to contribute to power system stability.

Connected to AusNet’s 500 kV Mortlake switchyard, the project demonstrates how grid-forming technology can support reliable operation under challenging network conditions while enabling greater integration of renewable generation.

Completed ahead of schedule, Mortlake provides an important Australian reference for integrating advanced grid-forming inverter technology into a complex transmission-connected battery project.

Meeting Australia’s growing need for grid stability

Australia’s electricity system is undergoing a significant transformation. As conventional synchronous generators retire and renewable generation increases, the grid requires new sources of frequency support, voltage control and system stability.

Battery energy storage systems can play an increasingly important role in addressing these challenges. With advanced grid-forming inverter technology, their contribution can extend beyond energy storage and dispatch to supporting the stable operation of the power system.

Inside Mortlake's grid-forming technology

Samuel Wiggins explains how advanced inverter technology enables the battery to support grid stability.

SMA’s grid-forming technology

The project incorporates 116 SMA Sunny Central Storage 3800 UP inverters, with a combined installed inverter capacity of 440.8 MVA.

What the grid-forming technology enables

Synthetic inertia and frequency support

Provides an emulated inertial response to help stabilise system frequency and respond to rapid changes in network conditions.

Voltage and reactive-power support

Supports voltage stability through fast reactive-power response, contributing to the plant’s documented ±118.5 MVAr reactive-power capability.

Voltage waveform stabilisation and fast response to grid disturbances

Responds rapidly to frequency disturbances, voltage variations and sudden changes in grid conditions while supporting voltage waveform stabilisation.

Fault ride-through

Supports stable plant operation during electrical disturbances, including three-phase and single-phase fault scenarios assessed through project simulations.

Operation under low-system-strength conditions

Supports stable operation in electrically weak and challenging network conditions. The grid-forming configuration was assessed at a short-circuit ratio as low as 1.2—significantly below the approximately 3 considered for the alternative grid-following configuration.

Response to the loss of conventional generation

Supports stable power system behaviour following the simulated loss of synchronous generation across different battery operating conditions.

Flexible grid-forming controls

Enables configurable operating modes, including P-Inertia with Q-Droop and P-Droop with Q-Droop, to respond to different grid requirements.

Why grid-forming technology matters

John Alexander, MD Sales & Corporate, SMA Australia Pty Ltd, shares his perspective on the role of grid-forming technology in Australia's energy transition.

“Grid-forming technology is redefining what battery storage can contribute to the power system—combining energy flexibility with the stability needed for a more renewable grid.”

Samuel Wiggins
Managing Director, Large Scale Service & Technology
SMA Australia

Delivering value beyond energy storage

At Mortlake, SMA’s grid-forming technology enables the battery to contribute actively to power system stability while supporting the project’s operational flexibility and long-term commercial value.

By providing synthetic inertia, voltage and reactive-power support, fault ride-through and stable operation under low-system-strength conditions, the technology helps address challenges associated with the transition to a more renewable electricity system.

For project owners and the wider energy system, these capabilities can support:

Improved grid stability and resilience.
Reliable operation under challenging network conditions.
Reduced exposure to system-strength-related costs.
Greater operational flexibility as grid and market requirements evolve.
Integration of higher levels of renewable generation.
Long-term asset performance and commercial value.

Mortlake demonstrates how grid-forming battery storage can deliver system-stability benefits alongside energy storage, operational flexibility and commercial value.

Supporting confidence in complex grid connections

Grid integration and project delivery

Integrating grid-forming technology into Australia's transmission network requires advanced inverter capabilities, accurate modelling and close collaboration between project stakeholders.

SMA's grid modelling expertise supports complex grid connection and approval processes through technical assessments and collaboration with project stakeholders.

At Mortlake, the grid-forming configuration was assessed through project simulations under challenging network conditions, including low system strength and electrical disturbances. These assessments provide valuable technical evidence to support the evaluation of inverter performance and system integration.

The experience gained through projects such as Mortlake reinforces the importance of combining proven inverter technology with specialist grid modelling expertise to support increasingly complex grid connection requirements.

Why SMA?

Proven technology. Global scale. Long-term confidence.

SMA technology supports utility-scale solar, battery storage and hybrid energy projects worldwide, combining high-performance power conversion, grid stability and long-term lifecycle support.

Installed worldwide

Installed in Australia

Driving energy innovation

Local delivery. Long-term support.

SMA supports customers throughout the project lifecycle, from engineering and commissioning to field service, training and ongoing operational support. This local expertise helps customers address technical challenges and maintain confidence in their assets over the long term.

Explore the Mortlake case study

Discover more about SMA's grid-forming inverter technology and the capabilities demonstrated at Origin Energy's Mortlake Battery Energy Storage System.

Download Mortlake Case Study

Planning your next large-scale energy project?

SMA combines advanced inverter technology, engineering expertise and local lifecycle support to help developers and asset owners address increasingly complex grid requirements.

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