List of coal-fired power stations in Australia
These fossil fuel power stations burn coal to power steam turbines that generate some or all of the electricity they produce. Australia's fleet of coal fired power stations are aging and many are due for decommissioning, and are being replaced by a combination of mostly renewable energy. In early 2017, 75% of coal fired power station in the country were operating beyond their original design life.[1]
The declining cost of renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind power and battery storage means it is unlikely a new coal fired power station will ever be built in Australia.[2] The Liddell Power Station is expected to be decommissioned and replaced by battery storage in 2022.[3]
New South Wales[]
Power station | Commission Year | Scheduled Closure Year | Max. Capacity (MW) | CO2 Emissions (t CO2-e/year) | Emission intensity (t CO2-e/MWh) | Turbines | Coal Type | Conveyance | Mine type | Cooling Water | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bayswater | 1982[4] | 2035[5] | 2,640 | 13,725,965[6] | 0.88[6] | 4 | bituminous | conveyors, rail | open cut | fresh | Active |
Eraring | 1982[4] | 2032[a] | 2,880 | 14,914,916[6] | 0.87[6] | 4 | bituminous | rail, truck | underground | salt | Active |
Liddell | 1971[4] | 2023[b] | 2,000 | 7,840,239[6] | 0.92[6] | 4 | bituminous | conveyors, rail | open cut | fresh | Active |
Mt Piper | 1993[4] | 2042[10] | 1,400* | 6,841,302[6] | 0.87[6] | 2 | bituminous | road, conveyor | underground | fresh | Active |
Vales Point B | 1978[4] | 2029[11] | 1,320 | 7,015,626[6] | 0.86[6] | 2 | bituminous | conveyors | underground | salt | Active |
Total (MW): 10,240
- In 2007 Delta Electricity re-rated the 2 units at Mt Piper at 700MW capacity. Further upgrades to capacity will occur in 2008/9[citation needed][needs update]
Queensland[]
Power station | Commission Year | Scheduled Closure Year | Max. Capacity (MW) | CO2 Emissions (t CO2-e/year) | Emission intensity (t CO2-e/MWh) | Turbines | Coal Type | Conveyance | Mine type | Cooling Water | Status | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Callide B | 1989[4] | 2028[12] | 700 | 5,103,540[6] | 0.92[6] | 2 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | fresh | Active | [13][14] |
Callide C | 2001[4] | Not Announced[10] | 810 | 5,265,665[6] | 0.9[6] | 2 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | fresh | Active | [13][14] |
Gladstone | 1976[4] | 2035[12] | 1,680 | 8,547,021[6] | 0.95[6] | 6 | bituminous | rail | open cut | seawater | Active | [13] |
Kogan Creek | 2007[4] | 2042[10] | 750 | 4,360,686[6] | 0.83[6] | 1 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | dry cooled | Active | [13] |
Millmerran | 2002[4] | 2051[10] | 852 | 5,794,351[6] | 0.82[6] | 2 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | dry cooled | Active | [13] |
Stanwell | 1993[4] | 2046[10] | 1,445 | 7,637,735[6] | 0.87[6] | 4 | bituminous | rail | open cut | fresh | Active | [13] |
Tarong | 1984[4] | 2037[10] | 1,400 | 10,473,950[6] | 0.86[6] | 4 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | fresh | Active | [13][15] |
Tarong North | 2002[4] | 2037[10] | 443 | 1 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | fresh | Active | [13] |
Total (MW): 8,080
Victoria[]
Power station | Commission Year | Scheduled Closure Year | Max. capacity (MW) | CO2 Emissions (t CO2-e/year) | Emission intensity (t CO2-e/MWh) | Turbines | Coal type | Conveyance | Mine type | Cooling water | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loy Yang A | 1984[4] | 2048[10] | 2200 | 20,107,115[6] | 1.17[6] | 4 | lignite | conveyors | open cut | fresh cooling tower | Active |
Loy Yang B | 1993[4] | 2047[10] | 1050 | 10,132,776[6] | 1.14[6] | 2 | lignite | conveyors | open cut | fresh cooling tower | Active |
Yallourn Power Station | 1975[4] | 2028[16][17] | 1480 | 13,856,313[6] | 1.34[6] | 4 | lignite | conveyors | open cut | fresh cooling tower | Active |
Total (MW): 4,730
Western Australia[]
Power station | Commission Year | Scheduled Closure Year | Max. Capacity (MW) | CO2 Emissions (t CO2-e/year) | Emission intensity (t CO2-e/MWh) | Turbines | Coal Type | Conveyance | Mine type | Cooling Water | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Collie | 1999[4] | 2040[18] | 340 | 1,848,693[6] | 0.91[6] | 1 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | fresh | Active |
Muja | 1981[4] | 2022 (Unit 5)[18]
2024 (Unit 6)[19] 2040 (Units 7 & 8)[18] |
854 | 3,982,663[6] | 0.9[6] | 4 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | fresh | Active (Units 1-4 Closed) |
Bluewaters | 2009[4] | - | 416 | 2,966,541[6] | 0.88[6] | 2 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | fresh | Active |
Total (MW): 1,717
- Kwinana A (240 MW) was shut down in 2010, and Kwinana C (400 MW) was shut down in 2015.[20]
Other States/Territories[]
The Australian Capital Territory does not use coal or oil to generate electricity.
The Northern Territory relies predominantly on natural gas, as well as various renewable energy sources. Likewise, it has no functioning coal fired power stations.
South Australia previously had a number of coal power stations. The last to be closed were the Northern and Playford B power stations.[21]
Tasmania has no functioning coal fired power stations, instead using primarily hydroelectricity, with natural gas used as a backup.
See also[]
- 100% renewable energy
- Energy policy of Australia
- List of natural gas fired power stations in Australia
Notes[]
Sources[]
- Boom and Bust 2021: Tracking The Global Coal Plant Pipeline (Report). Global Energy Monitor. 2021-04-05.
References[]
- ^ Daryl Passmore (26 March 2017). "Australia's coal-fired power stations too old and among worst in the OECD". The Courier Mail. News Corp. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
- ^ "No new coal-fired power plants will be built in Australia, says CS Energy". 7:30 Report. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
- ^ Giles Parkinson (27 September 2017). "AGL plans its own "big battery" and renewables to replace Liddell". RenewEconomy. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Electricity Markets and the role of coal fired power stations" (PDF). Retirement of coal power stations. Commonwealth of Australia. 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
- ^ "Transmission Annual Planning Report" (PDF). TransGrid. 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj "Electricity sector emissions and generation data 2017–18". www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
- ^ Parkinson, Giles (2021-05-18). "Origin to close first unit of Australia's biggest coal generator in 2030". RenewEconomy. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
- ^ "Schedule for the closure of AGL plants in NSW and SA". AGL. 2 August 2019. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ Mazengarb, Michael (2021-05-07). "AGL signs contractor for Liddell demolition, as it juggles closure units". RenewEconomy. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i "Generating Unit Expected Closure Year". AEMO.
- ^ Mazengarb, Michael (2021-02-11). "Delta turns down Taylor's $8.7 million grant for Vales Point upgrades". RenewEconomy. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Qld to close coal-fired power station a decade early". Australian Financial Review. 2019-10-06. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h "Coal-Fired Plants in Australia - QLD & SA". Gallery. Power Plants Around The World. 3 January 2014. Archived from the original on 19 July 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Callide Power Station". Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- ^ "Tarong Coal Power Plant". Global Energy Observatory. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
- ^ "EnergyAustralia to close Yallourn coal plant in 2028, to build massive big battery". RenewEconomy. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
- ^ "Battery power in, coal-fired power out as energy giant closes plant four years early". www.abc.net.au. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Electricity Generation and Retail Corporation trading as Synergy" (PDF). p. 15. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
- ^ "Media statement - Muja Power Station in Collie to be scaled back from 2022". www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
- ^ "Kwinana Power Station - SourceWatch". www.sourcewatch.org. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
- ^ "South Australia's Last Coal-Fired Power Station Demolished". The Urban Developer. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- Lists of power stations in Australia
- Coal-fired power stations in Australia
- Lists of coal-fired power stations