Murchs Corner BESS
Reliable energy. Local benefits.
The local Jamieson family, with support from Alternate Path, is developing the Murchs Corner battery energy storage system (BESS), located outside of Darlington, Victoria.
The Murchs Corner BESS is a proposed ’big battery’ at Stony Point, off the Darlington-Terang Road, Darlington, Victoria.
It will include an onsite switchyard to connect into the existing 500 kV Moorabool to Tarrone overhead transmission line that runs through the site.
At this stage, the size of the BESS is yet to be determined.
Key features
Project status: Feasibility and planning
Asset: Battery energy storage system (BESS)
Capacity: To be confirmed
Location: Darlington, Victoria
Local council: Moyne Shire Council
Traditional Owners: The Eastern Maar
Partners: Jamieson family and Alternate Path
Location
The site was selected due to the existing overhead 500kV transmission line running through, and its separation distance to dwellings, access to main roads and ability to use open agricultural land.
The site is located in south west Victoria, about 170 km from Melbourne, and 4.5 kilometres south-west of Darlington. Within 15-20 kilometres of the site are Derrinallum, Mortlake and Camperdown.
Within a two-kilometre radius of the project area, there are three dwellings; one associated with the project, and two not associated.
What is a BESS?
A BESS is designed to store and release energy and provide support to stabilise the electricity grid.
Murchs Corner BESS will store energy generated from the grid (including from renewable projects) and dispatch it during periods of high demand, helping to stabilise the electricity grid and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
As a grid firming asset, the BESS will play a critical role in supporting energy reliability, particularly during peak usage or when renewable generation is low.
Key components
Unlike nearby renewable energy projects, the BESS requires much less land and has minimal impacts on wildlife, including birds and bats.
A battery energy storage system is likely to require approximately 25 hectares of land and include:
BESS units
Inverters and transformers
Switch rooms, control building and associated electrical infrastructure
An on-site substation and new Terminal Station, connecting the BESS to the transmission line
Water tanks
Operations and maintenance building
Car parking, access points and internal tracks
Firebreaks
Security fencing and monitoring systems
Landscaping/screening
Earthworks
Associated buildings and works.
Above: Example BESS infrastructure. This image does not reflect the size or layout of the Murchs Corner BESS project.
Why landowner-led?
A landowner-led model means the people who know the land best – the local farming families who’ve cared for it for generations – are at the centre of the project.
This approach ensures that the economic, environmental, and social benefits stay local. A development partner will be sought down the track.
How it works
The landowners have partnered directly with experienced developers Alternate Path, and engaged experienced project managers Robert Luxmoore as well as other technical experts, to develop the project concept through to approvals stage. The landowner will partner with an experienced renewable energy operator to construct the BESS.
This creates a structure where:
Decision-making stays close to the community.
Income from the project supports local jobs and businesses.
Profits are reinvested locally in Darlington.
Agriculture remains part of our land’s future.
This model allows the Jamiesons to continue farming alongside energy storage, creating a diverse and drought-proof income stream that supports both the family and the wider community.
It’s a practical, balanced way to help Victoria transition to clean energy – while protecting Darlington livelihoods and values.
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