AGL energy has reached a milestone in its transition of Torrens Island into a renewable energy hub, with the decommissioning of four oil tanks and six tank bases preparing the site for a $180 million, 250MW grid-scale battery.
AGL Chief Operating Officer, Markus Brokhof, said the removal of the tanks is an important part of progressing the growth of intermittent renewable energy in South Australia.
“This is the first step in transitioning Torrens Island into an integrated industrial energy hub with a low carbon footprint,” Mr Brokhof said.
“The removal of these tanks is critical to make way for the 250MW Torrens Island grid-scale battery – the first to begin construction and the largest within AGL’s planned 850MW national battery roll-out.
“Torrens Island power station has played an essential role in the state’s energy generation, with fuel oil supporting natural gas in peak demand periods to generate an average of 2,604GWh of energy over the last five years, enough to power approximately 500,000 average Australian homes per year.”
Mr Brokhof said since the development of the Barker Inlet power station in 2019, all Torrens Island power station units have stopped using fuel oil as the company continues to invest in more efficient and less carbon-intensive technologies.
“I want to thank our teams, including our delivery partner Delta Group, for the hours of planning and work that has gone into this project to ensure the removal of the tanks was completed safely and successfully – an excellent proof of our rehabilitation capabilities with our partners,” Mr Brokhof said.
“At peak, 18 people worked on-site, transporting around 1,733 tonnes of steel – the equivalent weight of approximately five Boeing 747s – from Torrens Island to Wingfield, where it will then go to Port Hedland for recycling.
“We look forward to continuing the site’s legacy as an energy powerhouse as it evolves to more sustainable generation technologies that also support Australia’s energy transition.”
