In a cordoned-off corner of our Brisbane office, Chief Remote Pilot, Matt Jeffs, is gearing up for another drone flight. He conducts final checks, eyes flitting across three monitors displaying various data, video feeds, and charts. 

“Preparing box,” Matt speaks into his headset. “Prepare for take-off… Spinning up… And we’re off.” 

Nearly 1,750 kilometres away at Victoria’s Mortlake Power Station, a drone comes to life. Emerging from its “drone-in-a-box” station—a container doubling as its landing pad and charging hub—it ascends smoothly. Following a pre-programmed route, it surveys the construction of a 300-megawatt large-scale battery taking shape next to the power station. 
 
Back in Brisbane, Matt keeps a close eye on the drone’s journey. He checks the airspace, chats with any nearby pilots if needed, keeps tabs on the weather, and makes sure everything’s running smoothly.

As the drone flies over the site, it captures sharp, detailed aerial images. These images are later processed to correct any distortions, ensuring they match up perfectly with maps and elevation data. The outcome? Clear, reliable insights that help the Mortlake Battery project team track progress, visualise the site, share updates with off-site team members, and plan upcoming activities more effectively.

Breaking barriers with beyond visual line-of-sight approval

A game-changer for Origin, this operation represents a major leap forward, enabled by recent approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations. This approval allows our qualified operators to pilot drones from its Brisbane Remote Operations Centre, even when those drones are located hundreds or thousands of kilometres away. 

The drone-in-a-box system at Mortlake highlights the potential of this technology. With its ability to autonomously launch, land, and recharge, allowing us to remotely track construction progress, reducing the need for on-site personnel. 
 
“The drone at Mortlake has been flying twice a week since the project began in August,” Matt says. “For much of the Mortlake Battery team, who are based off-site, this technology is a valuable tool. It lets us inspect activities, track changes, and measure site features—all without being there in person.”

Revolutionising project management

Origin Project Engineer James King, involved in the Mortlake project from the start of construction, says, “Sharing drone-captured imagery with the team has transformed how we track progress— it’s often easier to convey progress visually than through written updates.

“For instance, our project scheduler uses these images to track the progress of construction, identifying areas where we’re ahead or behind schedule.  
 
“Personally, I’ve found it incredibly useful to overlay site drawings onto drone photo maps to anticipate potential challenges.”

A future in flight

Years of development, rigorous testing, and regulatory hurdles have culminated in this moment. The Mortlake project is just the beginning of our ambitions in utilising drones. 

“We’re thrilled to be at the forefront of drone operations within the energy sector,” Matt says. 
 
“Deploying drone-in-a-box solutions like this one at key sites across our portfolio is just the start. As drone technology continues to evolve, we anticipate even more innovative applications to emerge.” 

“For Origin, the skies are not the limit—they’re just the beginning.” 

The post How drone-in-a-box tech is changing the game appeared first on The Origin Blog.

Having first joined forces with the Swans at the start of 2022, Origin will remain the club’s Official Energy Partner and extend its commitment as a Premier Partner of both the AFL and AFLW teams through to four seasons.

The new Sydney Swans HQ at the iconic Royal Hall of Industries, which was officially opened in 2023, has recently been awarded a 5 Star Green Star Design & As Built rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.

The award-winning facility incorporates several features promoting sustainability, including solar panels, skylights and windows to maximise natural light, upgraded window glazing and rainwater tanks. Meanwhile the decision to improve an existing building significantly reduced the use of materials that would have been associated with a new build.

Origin assisted with the installation of EV charging solutions at the new facility to help the Swans make the transition to lower emission vehicles.

“We’re thrilled to be extending our support of the Sydney Swans, as their official energy partner and across both their men’s and women’s football programs, until the end of 2025,” Origin’s Executive General Manager Retail, Jon Briskin, said.

“Over the past two years, we’ve worked together to lay a strong foundation and have seen the Swans take some significant steps forward around sustainability – particularly at their new home.

“We’re excited to explore further possibilities with the Swans around reducing their carbon footprint into the future, and to continue to influence behaviours through sport in line with our ambition to lead the energy transition within Australia.”

For the past two seasons at Sydney Swans home games at the SCG, we’ve created a sustainable, VIP game day space through its Home of the Fans and Good Change Clubhouse experiences.

Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley said the club is proud to be continuing its partnership with Origin.

“Like many organisations, our club is on a journey to reduce our carbon footprint and make our operations sustainable into the future,” Harley said.

“Origin has been an incredible support in helping us understand the best way to transition to cleaner energy solutions, and importantly, together we have been able to share that message with Swans members and fans.

“On behalf of everyone at the club I would like to thank Origin for their continued support. We look forward to continuing to work together on cleaner energy initiatives.”

We will also continue to support the QBE Sydney Swans Academy as an Official Partner.

The post Extending our partnership with the Sydney Swans appeared first on The Origin Blog.

Whether onshore or offshore, wind farms hold immense promise as renewable energy sources. However, to unlock this potential, accurate wind resource assessments during the development phase are crucial. That’s why careful planning and preparation are vital before these farms can take shape. 

Evaluating a site for a wind farm requires a thorough feasibility study to assess its potential for harnessing wind energy effectively for electricity generation. Part of this process involves installing meteorological masts, also known as ‘met’ masts. These masts gather crucial data by monitoring wind and weather conditions at different heights above the ground. This data is vital for wind farm developers to accurately determine wind speeds, direction, and other weather parameters at the site, which can be challenging to predict. Wind data sets, recorded over a year or two, are essential for these projects to reliably estimate the expected energy output.

Met masts key to planning Northern Tablelands Wind Farm

In planning for a proposed Northern Tablelands Wind Farm site in regional NSW, we recently installed two meteorological masts to assess the site’s wind potential. This project site spans 7,586 hectares across the Warrane property, located 18 km northwest of Armidale within the NSW New England Renewable Energy Zone, with the site boasting a high-quality wind resource — and offering several grid connection options — making it very appealing for a wind energy development. 

Each of the meteorological masts installed at Warrane stand at 110 meters tall and are spaced 3.5 kilometres apart. These lattice structures are strategically positioned to collect data from the site, ensuring thorough assessment of wind and other weather conditions across the entire potential wind farm area. Equipped with instruments at different heights, they gather comprehensive data crucial for understanding wind patterns and variability.  

Monitoring wind at different heights gives us a wind profile that helps estimate wind speeds higher than those measured directly at the mast. Monitoring wind direction is equally crucial as it guides turbine placement and spacing across the project area. 
 
Wind turbine manufacturers can develop different models and classes suited to different weather conditions. In areas with lower wind speeds, turbines have larger blades to capture maximum energy across the aerodynamic surface. Conversely, sites with higher wind-speeds typically require smaller blades for greater efficiency in harnessing strong, steady winds. Therefore, the data collected from the met masts guides the selection of turbines and blades best suited to the site’s wind characteristics.

Met masts are kept in place for at least 18 months, sometimes up to 60 months, to collect solid data, reduce uncertainties, ensure project feasibility, and account for weather, seasonal changes, and maintenance. However, they’re not the sole method used for wind resource assessment. We’re also employing Lidar technology – an optical wind measurement technique. Lidar, short for ‘light detection and ranging,’ uses laser pulses to remotely detect wind conditions, offering broader coverage and flexibility compared to fixed met masts. Unlike met masts, Lidar units are portable and can be moved around the project area to gather data, which helps even more in figuring out the overall feasibility of the project. 

Each method – Lidar and met masts – can be used in tandem to provide a comprehensive understanding of the wind conditions at a wind farm site. Given the substantial investment required for wind-energy projects, how we measure wind resources can significantly impact the success of these projects. Combining modern tools like Lidar with traditional meteorological masts ensures we get a thorough and accurate assessment. This approach not only boosts energy production by developing a wind farm suited to specific weather and site conditions, but also makes renewable energy investments more sustainable and reliable in the long run.

Did you know? Meteorological masts aren’t just for wind farms. They’re also key at airports and for general weather forecasting, climate research, and studying tough-to-reach places. They give us crucial data that helps make flights safer, improves weather predictions, and supports all sorts of meteorological work.

The post What are met masts and how do they work? appeared first on The Origin Blog.

We first teamed up with The Victorian Homeless Fund (VHF) in 2021. The charity provides long-term, stable homes for people in need, with a focus on supporting women and children escaping family violence.

Alongside assisting with the construction costs for this new house, which will be generously built by Fairhaven Homes, we’ll be fitting the property out with solar panels and provide the family that moves in with free electricity, gas and broadband for 12 months.

Fairhaven Homes will build a fully landscaped, five bedroom, two living room home, complete with furniture throughout.

Our Executive General Manager of Retail, Jon Briskin, recently attended the site for a groundbreaking ceremony, alongside VHF Chair, Colleen May, and Fairhaven Homes Founder and Director, Rodney Radings.

“It’s exciting to see the ‘Origin House’ project starting to come to life, thanks to the hard work and generosity of so many people, including the team at Fairhaven Homes and the Victorian Homeless Fund,” Mr Briskin said.

“The Victorian Homeless Fund makes a real difference with the work they do supporting vulnerable people in our community, and we’re pleased to be able to support them on this project and help a family in need.

Supported by the Housing Industry Association, the VHF works with a range of stakeholders to convert unused residential land into family homes, then transferring these into the hands of not-for-profit community housing organisations to support people in need.

Origin has previously been involved in two VHF builds, including providing 12 months of free energy for tenants. This initiative, and partnership with VHF, is an extension of Origin’s commitment to helping Australians who need support.

For more than 20 years, we’ve supported vulnerable customers through our Power On program, helping them manage their energy bills. And, over the past three years, we’ve spent $90 million supporting vulnerable customers, and we’ll spend another $50 million in the next year.

The post Construction set to start on Origin House appeared first on The Origin Blog.

The 40 kW rooftop solar system is expected to generate approximately 50 MWh of electricity annually, while a 13.5 kW battery has also been installed to store energy and help power the facility at night. 

This initiative represents a substantial stride towards reducing the club’s carbon footprint at its state-of-the-art home. 

Now in our third year as a Major Partner of Melbourne City FC, we’re committed to continuing to drive good change in Australian sport. 

These renewable energy solutions will help power the club’s football and administration operations – helping contribute to a more sustainable future. 

“We are thrilled to officially unveil the City Football Academy Melbourne at Casey Fields,” Melbourne City FC CEO, Brad Rowse, said. 

“This state-of-the-art facility, powered by Origin’s renewable energy solutions, will be the new home to our Men’s, Women’s, Academy, and Administration teams, and will allow us to come together under the one roof to train, share ideas and challenge each other every single day. 

“This facility sets new standards for football in this country and lays the foundations for sustainable growth, on and off the pitch. 

“We pride ourselves on being an innovative club, and a club that has a positive impact on our local community, and in Origin, we’re lucky to have a partner that shares these same values.” 

“We’re proud to partner with Melbourne City FC to help power their new home base, the City Football Academy Melbourne, with cleaner energy,” Origin’s Executive General Manager Retail, Jon Briskin, said. 

“Installing renewable energy solutions at this facility, in the form of solar power and battery storage, will be important in helping lower emissions from the club’s day-to-day operations. 

“At Origin, our ambition is to lead the energy transition through cleaner energy solutions and working with our partners, like Melbourne City FC, we can help drive good change in sport together.” 
 
Together, Melbourne City FC and Origin are showing that integrating lower carbon energy solutions is the winning game plan. 

The post Future proofing Melbourne City FC’s City Football Academy   appeared first on The Origin Blog.

Origin Zero was established to help business customers on their decarbonisation journey through providing tailored energy solutions. Origin Zero can help customers reduce carbon emissions and energy costs and aims to make the transition towards net zero simpler for businesses. 

By working closely with our team, business solar customers can leverage our expert engineers, project managers, procurement specialists, quality and safety management experts, and maintenance and monitoring specialists.

We have a team of 50+ people dedicated to designing and delivering onsite renewable energy solutions, including experienced solar design and cutting-edge technologies.

Since 2015, we have installed over 100MW in solar projects for our business customers throughout Australia. Our depth of solar experience means we have the expertise to deliver any solar project, and the SunWiz award is a testament to this.

SunWiz is a solar market consultancy and analytics firm that has independently tracks solar installation data across Australia.

*Based installed solar power capacity in Australia, measured by SunWiz covering the period from 2001 (when government data became available) to the end of 2022.

The post #1 Solar Installer Award appeared first on The Origin Blog.

Ahead of the Origin Australian Diamonds’ first appearance for 2024 in the Netball Nations Cup this Sunday, Origin has re-signed as the team’s official naming rights partner, with branding to feature across all playing and training uniforms. 

Origin will also extend its support at the top tier of domestic competition, continuing as a major partner of the Suncorp Super Netball League. 

The partnership first launched in 2020, with Origin and Netball Australia working together to help grow the number one team sport for women and girls in Australia from the grassroots level through to the elite level. 

Netball Australia Interim CEO Stacey West thanked Origin for their strong ongoing support for the sport which has more than one million participants.  

“Together with Origin, we will continue to grow the sport of netball in Australia from the grassroots through to our Origin Australian Diamonds,” West said.  

“The Origin Australian Diamonds have won every major tournament they’ve played in the past two-and-a-half years, including being crowned Commonwealth Games gold medallists and World Champions and with the ongoing support of Origin will continue to make Australia proud.’’ 

Origin Australian Diamonds defender Joanna Weston was excited to announce the partnership would enter a fifth year.  

“It’s really exciting to have Origin re-sign as our naming rights partner,” Weston said.  

“We’ve been incredibly lucky to have had Origin’s support for the past four years and we wouldn’t be on the court without them.” 

Origin’s General Manager of Marketing, Catherine Anderson, said: “We’re delighted to be extending our partnership with Netball Australia and continuing our support of the world’s best netball team, the Origin Australian Diamonds, and the world’s premier domestic competition.”  

“Over the past four years, we’ve built a strong relationship with Netball Australia, supporting one of Australia’s most-loved sports at all levels.”   

“The Origin Australian Diamonds have enjoyed significant success on the court through this period, as well as being excellent role models within the community. We’re excited to continue to help grow netball in Australia and work together to create good change in sport.”  

The world number-one ranked Origin Australian Diamonds will begin the Netball Nations Cup against New Zealand in London this Sunday, before taking on England and for the first time in history Uganda.  

The post Extending our partnership with Netball Australia appeared first on The Origin Blog.

As part of Origin 360 EV’s commitment to cleaner transportation, the company is offering fleet and subscription customers the opportunity to experience the new BMW i4 eDrive35 electric vehicle (EV) ahead of its official market release in February 2024.  

Chau Le, General Manager of Origin 360 EV, said, “Our partnership with BMW for early access to the i4 eDrive35 is a reflection of our continued commitment to helping Australian businesses and their employees transition to cleaner mobility. We’re thrilled to offer this unique opportunity this summer.”  

EV subscription with salary packaging

With the holiday season fast approaching, Origin 360 EV has launched a Subscribe for Summer campaign, catering to organisations seeking an all-inclusive EV work benefit for their employees. The EV subscription salary packaging benefit features no lock-in contracts, flexible month-to-month plans, employee cost-saving advantages and, most enticingly, exclusive access to the BMW i4 eDrive35 this summer.   

“Now is the ideal time for companies to offer their employees an EV salary sacrifice benefit. Rising petrol prices, government subsidies, and a wide range of available models and brands make electric vehicles an appealing option. Furthermore, if you chose to work with Origin, we do all the heavy lifting. We manage everything, making it easy for businesses to deliver the EV employee perk to their staff,” said Chau.  

Fleet or Flexible EV subscription for businesses

Early access to the BMW i4 eDrive35 is also available on the newly launched EV Flex program – an all-inclusive and cost-effective electric vehicle business subscription plan. This comprehensive solution is suitable for both large corporations exploring EV integration into their fleets or smaller businesses aiming to lower their emissions.  

Chau highlighted “All EVs are different and assessing whether a vehicle meets a business’s needs often requires spending time in it. The beauty of the Origin 360 EV Flex Plan is the flexibility to swap if the current EV selected isn’t suitable.” 

BMW i4 eDrive35

The new BMW i4 eDrive35 is renowned for its blend of luxury and performance. Featuring fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology, the power system includes a single motor that drives the rear wheels and develops 210kW and peak torque of 400Nm. This aids in the new i4 accelerating from zero to 100km/h in only six seconds with a driving range of up to 430km.  

Origin 360 EV takes pride in pioneering accessibility, convenience, and cost-effectiveness in the transition to electric vehicles. By providing early access to the BMW i4 eDrive35 and an array of lower emissions transport solutions, Origin 360 EV is helping power Australians forward on their EV journey.  

To find out more about the Origin 360 EV Subscribe for Summer early access opportunity to the BMW i4 eDrive35, please visit origin.com.au/electric-vehicles/subscriptions  

This article was originally published by Fleet Auto News.

The post Origin announces early access to BMW i4 eDrive35 appeared first on The Origin Blog.

The Reliability and Emergency Reserve Trader (RERT)

 In Australia, if there is a threat to the reliability of our power system, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) can step in to maintain or restore a stable operating state. 

One-way AEMO does this is through the Reliability and Reserve Emergency Trader (RERT), a two-way contract it holds with large commercial energy users. Under RERT contracts, AEMO may request large commercial users who are contracted in the RERT program, to significantly reduce demand or shut down, if the market does not have enough capacity to meet forecast demand, such as during extreme weather events. Large energy users do this in exchange for payment.

Participants in the RERT are deemed eligible based on a range of criteria, including having the flexibility to change their operations in order to reduce energy consumption during times of peak-demand. Most large commercial energy users opt to participate in the RERT via an intermediary, such as Origin.

Recent RERT activation

Early in 2023, Australia’s National Energy Market (NEM) was at risk of supply shortfalls, due to high temperatures and the impact this has on energy demand, coupled with several large generators offline for maintenance. These events placed significant pressure on the grid and posed risks to reliability. 

On 3 February 2023, AEMO activated 21 MWs of electricity reserves in Queensland under the RERT.

Helping restore balance in power supply and demand

During this RERT event, Origin successfully engaged participants, acting on instructions from AEMO to dispatch reserve capacity. Through our virtual power plant, our team liaised with our Queensland based RERT customers informing them of market notices, changes to weather and grid conditions, and passing on regular updates on the likelihood of a RERT event and its potential duration.  

RERT participants can support the energy market to help avoid prolonged high prices and outages. If they participate in a RERT event, they receive a payment from AEMO and a reduction in direction charges proportionate to their participation. This compensation is provided by AEMO because their role, as RERT participants, is essential in allowing the RERT mechanism to work and ensuring the on-going security and stability of Australia’s power system. 

Customers power down and earn RERT payments

During the recent RERT event on 3 February, Origin Zero customers delivered all of the reserve electricity activated by AEMO and were compensated accordingly for powering down for 2 hours (the complete duration of the RERT event). 

The RERT is only used for emergencies

While we’re experiencing more extreme adverse events that affect our electricity system, it’s important to note the RERT is only used in emergency situations and when AEMO deems it necessary.  RERT participants are given notice in line with their contracted operational parameters, and as the program is an “opt-in” mechanism, participants have the freedom to participate after assessing their operational constraints. 

There are differing mechanisms and other ways large businesses can be rewarded for reducing demand and helping to increase system reliability, besides the RERT. 

Have a chat to your Origin Zero team today to discuss the different options available for your business.

The post RERT Activation Summary Feb 2023 appeared first on The Origin Blog.