As we look at the energy options proposed for our great region, let us take a moment to consider the necessity for a boost to our power supply, not just locally but nationally.
While the options of coal-fired and nuclear power stations are very polarising, debate on the Townsville Times Facebook page suggests that renewable energy options such as windfarms and solar energy have a great many detractors too.
For those who have more than scratched the surface on the latter – their reasoning includes finite lifespan of solar panels which then turn into landfill and noise pollution from windfarms, as well as their impact on native birdlife at the hands of the turbine blades. There have even been suggestions that the noise created by coastal windfarms have a detrimental impact on whale movements.
The mothballing of the Pioneer-Burdekin Hydro Project (near Mackay) and the closure of major power stations across the country points to a reduced emphasis on electricity production.
Let’s look back to Federal Parliament Hansard in 2023, where Member for Kennedy (an electorate that takes in country to the west and north of Townsville) Bob Katter highlighted the need for more power stations given the imminent closure of five of them. The question came hot on the heels of the decommissioning of Liddell Power Station in 2023.
Power stations set to close by 2029:
- Callide B Power Station: The coal-fired power station is set for decommissioning in 2028. While annual output was hard to ascertain for Callide B specifically (it has decommissioned neighbouring stations), when first commissioned this station used to have capacity to generate 350MW. Located near Biloela, Qld.
- Eraring Power Station: Set for decommissioning in 2027, the thermal power station produces, on average, 16,012GW. Located near Lake Macquarie, NSW.
- Liddell Power Station: Decommissioned in 2023, the coal-fired power station produced just shy of 9000GW a year (on average). Located at Muswellbrook near Newcastle, NSW.
- Torrens Island Power Station: Set for decommissioning in June 2026, it burns natural gas in eight steam turbines. While annual output was hard to ascertain, at full capacity this station used to have capacity to generate 800MW. Located near Adelaide, SA.
- Vales Point Power Station: Originally set for decommissioning in 2029, the owner has now said it may delay this till 2033. The coal-fired thermal power station produced 6331GW in 2021. Located near Port Macquarie, NSW.
- Yallourn Power Station: Set for decommissioning in 2028, is a thermal power station using brown coal. While annual output was hard to ascertain, at full capacity this station used to have capacity to generate 1480MW.
*There are 1000 megawatts (MW) in a gigawatt (GW).
Mr Katter raised the Question Without Notice to Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen (5/9/2023).
Mr KATTER (Kennedy) (14:19): My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Minister, you’re aware that Liddell, Eraring, Torrens, Vales Point, Callide B and Yallourn will all close by 2029, taking 9,000 megawatts from the 32,000-megawatt national grid. Since Snowy 2 at 2,000 megawatts is the only new generation, and with AEMO [Australian Energy Market Operator] last week warning of the obvious—prolonged blackouts—is your answer the latest wind farm, with 83 towers that are 580 foot high and are only going to have a lifespan of 90 years?
Mr Bowen’s response:
…In fact, I’m happy to share with the House that in the last financial year AEMO approved 6.8 gigawatts of new generation. That’s up from four gigawatts the year before. That’s an increase of 2.6 gigawatts, in the last financial year, of new generation approved by AEMO. In fact, AEMO has said there are 3.4 more gigawatts available going into this summer than last summer. There is more generation available this summer than last summer, and the bulk of that is renewable, which is a good thing…
AEMO also said last week that federal and state initiatives, including transmission projects identified in the Integrated Systems Plan and mechanisms delivering firming capacity, such as the Commonwealth’s Capacity Investment Scheme, can address many identified risks over the 10-year horizon. That’s a Commonwealth scheme which this Commonwealth government has delivered, which the previous government talked about and could not deliver. What we need is more investment in generation and dispatchable energy. That’s exactly what we’re getting under the policy settings of this government. That’s exactly what we lacked for 10 long years.
While it is comforting to know that the Australian Energy Market Operator has slated new generation adding less than 10GW to the national grid, it is not entirely clear how the shortfall left by the imminent closures will be addressed.
One thing is for sure, many eyes will be on the power plays taking place in North Queensland over the coming year… or perhaps, years.
