EnergyAustralia’s Tallawarra B power station in Yallah has received a 372-tonne fast-start gas turbine, which will form the centre of Australia’s first carbon offset gas and hydrogen power plant.
The 316MW power station will help to transform Australia’s energy system when it’s completed in time for the summer of 2023/24 – stepping in just as Liddell Power Station retires.
Being built with the support of the New South Wales Government, it will sit alongside the existing Tallawarra A Power Station and support the growth of renewable energy.
EnergyAustralia’s Chief Operating Officer, Liz Westcott, said the GE 9F.05 turbine has been a long time coming and its arrival was met with excitement by EnergyAustralia.
“The turbine began its journey in mid-March 2022 when it was loaded onto a ship in the US city of Charleston, South Carolina,” Ms Westcott said.
“Once the turbine arrived at Port Kembla, more than two months later, it was a big logistical task getting it to Yallah, involving four prime movers travelling at very slow speeds, sometimes under bridges where it only just fit.
“To see it arrive safely at the site was really exciting.
“The turbine will be at the heart of a power station which is the first of its kind in Australia – capable of utilising a mix of green hydrogen and natural gas. And Tallawarra B’s direct greenhouse gas emissions will be fully offset over its operational life.”
Tallawarra B is one of several projects EnergyAustralia is developing as it works to provide customers with power that’s not just reliable and affordable, but increasingly clean too.
Ms Westcott said Tallawarra B has an important role to play in accelerating the clean energy transition.
“The turbine will enable Tallawarra B to fire up quickly, within 30 minutes, stepping in when the supply of renewable energy is low to help keep the lights on for around 150,000 homes,” Ms Westcott said.
“It’s just what our modern energy system needs – fast and flexible generation that complements renewables.”
Once the plant is up and running EnergyAustralia will be able to buy 200,000kg of green hydrogen per year.
“What’s particularly exciting is that we will be conducting engineering studies to see if the amount of green hydrogen can increase,” Ms Westcott said.
“The construction of Tallawarra B is just one of the ways we’re making our promise of ‘doing, not just dreaming’ a reality.”
Around 50 people are currently working at the construction site, which will increase to 250 towards the end of the year.
EnergyAustralia will regularly consult with the community during the project’s construction.
