The Mortlake power plant is the largest gas fired power station in the state of Victoria and has the capacity to supply the equivalent of peak power to a quarter of million Australian households.

The plant was constructed by Australian company Lend Lease, who installed the Siemens turbine and generator sets, built the associated 500kV switchyard and gas insulated switchgear, constructed the 500kV transmission connection and associated auxiliary equipment and systems. The installation of Siemens SGTS 4000F gas turbines is the first time this type of technology was installed in Australia. Origin’s Mortlake power plant, has been designed to be controlled remotely and has the capability to be switched on, with about five minutes’ notice.

Mortlake is supplied with natural gas via an 83 km dedicated underground natural gas transmission pipeline from the new gas processing plant near Port Campbell, as part of the offshore Otway Gas fields Project, which lies in the Bass Strait, between the Australian states of Victoria and Tasmania.

Origin Energy Managing Director, Mr Grant King said, “The Mortlake Power Station represents a considerable investment by Origin in Victoria and adds to the Company's significant presence in the state.” It is intended to supplement power supplies within the country’s National Electricity Market (NEM) which incorporates the states of Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland and South Australia. Western Australia and Northern Territories are not connected yet to this market. As a result of the opening of the Mortlake power plant, it helps reduce system losses and carbon emissions by decreasing the need to use coal fired power plants in the La Trobe Valley of Eastern Victoria.

'Mortlake Power Station is active demonstration of Origin's integrated strategy, whereby the energy demands of our customers are supported by our large and flexible portfolio of power stations, many of which are fuelled by the Company's natural gas resources,' Mr King said.

Origin is the country’s largest energy retailer providing 13 per cent of the power needs of Australia. Its power plant portfolio is dominated by gas power stations, but it also has interests in geothermal, hydro, solar and wind power plants. It is the owner of 5,310 MW generating capacity.