List of coal-fired power stations in Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 is aging and many are due for decommissioning, and are being replaced by a combination of mostly renewable energy. In early 2017, 75% of the coal-fired power stations 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] which would make the 2009-commissioned Bluewaters Power Station the last coal-fired power station to be constructed in Australia. The Liddell Power Station is the latest coal-fired power station to be decommissioned, which took place on 28 April 2023.[3]
| Total projected maximum energy capacity (MW) from coal-fired power stations in Australia By Dec 31 of year, based on closure years listed below | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total: 214240
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayswater | 1982[4] | 2033[5] | 2,640 | 13,725,965[6] | 0.88[6] | 4 | bituminous | conveyors, rail | open cut | fresh | AGL |
| Eraring | 1982[4] | 2029[7][a] | 2,880 | 14,914,916[6] | 0.87[6] | 4 | bituminous | rail, truck | underground | salt | Origin |
| Mt Piper | 1993[4] | 2040[9][10] | 1,400 | 6,841,302[6] | 0.87[6] | 2 | bituminous | road, conveyor | underground | fresh | EnergyAustralia |
| Vales Point B | 1978[4] | 2033[11] | 1,320 | 7,015,626[6] | 0.86[6] | 2 | bituminous | conveyors | underground | salt | Delta |
Total (MW): 8,240
Decommissioned stations
| Power station | Commission year(s) | Closure year | Max. capacity (MW) | Emission intensity (t CO2-e/MWh) | Turbines | Coal type | Conveyance | Mine type | Cooling water | Former
owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liddell | 1971-1973[4] | 2023 | 2,000 | 0.94[6] | 4 | bituminous | conveyors, rail | open cut | fresh | |
| Munmorah | 1969[4] | 2012 | 1,400 | 1.16[12] | 4 | bituminous | ||||
| Redbank | 2001[13] | 2014[13] | 151 | 1.4[12] | 1 | bituminous | ||||
| Wallerawang A | 1957-1959[14] | 1986 | 120 | 4 | bituminous | fresh | ||||
| Wallerawang B | 1961[14] | 1990 | 120 | 2 | bituminous | fresh | ||||
| Wallerawang C | 1976-1980[14] | 2014 | 1000 | 1.05[12] | 2 | bituminous | fresh | |||
| White Bay A | 1917-1925[14] | 1955 | 58.5 | 5 | bituminous | |||||
| White Bay B | 1926-1928[14] | 1975 | 86 | 4 | bituminous | |||||
| White Bay C | 1951-1958[14] | 1983 | 100 | 2 | bituminous | |||||
| Pyrmont A | 1904-1924[15] | 1950s | 75 | 7 | bituminous | |||||
| Pyrmont B | 1952-1955[15] | 1983 | 200 | 4 | bituminous | |||||
| Ultimo | 1899-1951 | 1963 | 79.5 | 11 | bituminous | |||||
| Bunnerong A | 1926-1937 | 1975 | 175 | 7 | bituminous | |||||
| Bunnerong B | 1939-1947 | 1975 | 200 | 4 | bituminous | |||||
| Tallawarra A | 1954-1955[16] | 1989 | 120 | 4 | bituminous | |||||
| Tallawarra B | 1960[16] | 1989 | 200 | 2 | bituminous | |||||
| Balmain A | 1909-1935 | 1976 | 41 | 9 | bituminous | |||||
| Balmain B | 1940-1956 | 1976 | 84.4 | 4 | bituminous |
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 | Owner | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Callide B | 1989[4] | 2028[17] | 700 | 5,103,540[6] | 0.92[6] | 2 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | fresh | CS Energy, Intergen | [18][19] |
| Callide C | 2001[4] | Not Announced[20] | 810 | 5,265,665[6] | 0.9[6] | 2 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | fresh | CS Energy, Intergen | [18][19] |
| Gladstone | 1976[4] | 2035[17], potential early closure in 2029[21] | 1,680 | 8,547,021[6] | 0.95[6] | 6 | bituminous | rail | open cut | seawater | Rio Tinto, NRG | [18] |
| Kogan Creek | 2007[4] | 2042[20] | 750 | 4,360,686[6] | 0.83[6] | 1 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | dry cooled | CS Energy | [18] |
| Millmerran | 2002[4] | 2051[20] | 852 | 5,794,351[6] | 0.82[6] | 2 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | dry cooled | Intergen[22] | [18] |
| Stanwell | 1993[4] | 2046[20] | 1,445 | 7,637,735[6] | 0.87[6] | 4 | bituminous | rail | open cut | fresh | Stanwell | [18] |
| Tarong | 1984[4] | 2037[20] | 1,400 | 10,473,950[6] | 0.86[6] | 4 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | fresh | Stanwell | [18][23] |
| Tarong North | 2002[4] | 2037[20] | 443 | 1 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | fresh | Stanwell | [18] |
Total (MW): 8,080
Decommissioned stations
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 | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loy Yang A | 1984[4] | 2035[24] | 2200 | 20,107,115[6] | 1.17[6] | 4 | lignite | conveyors | open cut | fresh cooling tower | AGL |
| Loy Yang B | 1993[4] | 2047[25][b] | 1050 | 10,132,776[6] | 1.14[6] | 2 | lignite | conveyors | open cut | fresh cooling tower | Chow Tai Fook, Alinta Energy[27] |
| Yallourn Power Station | 1975[4] | 2028[28][29] | 1480 | 13,856,313[6] | 1.34[6] | 4 | lignite | conveyors | open cut | fresh cooling tower | EnergyAustralia |
Total (MW): 4,730
Decommissioned stations
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 | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collie | 1999[4] | 2027[30] | 340 | 1,848,693[6] | 0.91[6] | 1 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | fresh | Synergy |
| Muja | 1981[4] | (units 1–6 closed) | 654 | 3,982,663[6] | 0.9[6] | 4 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | fresh | Synergy |
| Bluewaters | 2009[4] | – | 416 | 2,966,541[6] | 0.88[6] | 2 | bituminous | conveyor | open cut | fresh | Sumitomo Group, Kansai Electric |
Total (MW): 1,410
- Kwinana A (240 MW) was shut down in 2010, and Kwinana C (400 MW) was shut down in 2015.[33]
Decommissioned stations
Other states/territories
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory does not use coal or oil to generate electricity. The Kingston Powerhouse was the last coal-fired power station in the territory, but was decommissioned in 1957.
Decommissioned stations
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory relies predominantly on natural gas, as well as various renewable energy sources. Likewise, it has no functioning coal-fired power stations.
Decommissioned stations
South Australia
South Australia previously had a number of coal power stations. The last to be closed were the Northern and Playford B power stations.[34]
Decommissioned stations
Tasmania
Tasmania has no functioning coal-fired power stations, instead using primarily hydroelectricity, with natural gas used as a backup.
Decommissioned stations
See also
Notes
Sources
- Boom and Bust 2021: Tracking The Global Coal Plant Pipeline (Report). Global Energy Monitor. 5 April 2021.