vales point power station closure vales point power station closure

This will benefit customers, employees and system security for all energyusers.. Hydrogen is a rare element which means it needs to be manufactured. We also request confirmation that Vales Point coal-fired power station will close in 2025 and will not receive another exemption licence. It is also harmful to the environment. Brian Flannery, Trevor St Baker sell Vales Point coal power plant to Coal supplies NSW with an average of 63 percent of its energy requirements, while the National Energy Market average is 59 percent. In order to supply coal to the station, three mines were opened; Chain Valley Colliery, Newvale No.1 Colliery and Wyee State Mine. AGL Energy announced it would move the. Find them all here. The Liddel power station in the NSW Hunter is already set to close in 2023, but the report said at least one more closure in the state is likely before 2025. 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The Vales Point Power Plant is currently set for closure in 2029, but the EPA ruling delivered on 28 October 2022 could bring that date forward to 2025. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. He noted the deal includes a coal mine that supplies the 1320-megawatt Vales Point generator and that the plant is in good order. To disable your cookies, please click on Settings. The ageing Vales Point coal-fired power station on the New South Wales Central Coast, due to close in 2029, was given a stay of execution in the federal budget. It was commissioned in 1978 and is located on the southern shore of Lake Macquarie. But it also represents a significant expansion of Sev.en in Australias coal power sector beyond its interest in Queenslands InterGen, with the suggestion that further investments in the domestic energy sector may be on the cards. Local health professionals have analysed government health data and found shocking evidence of high cancer rates among residents in suburbs surrounding the power station and its coal ash dam each year an extra 107 cancer cases and 58 cancer deaths above the national average. Its also unknown how the sale will impact the rehabilitation responsibilities for the power station ash dumps, she said. Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates, sold the 1,320-megawatt Vales Point power station, likely to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, seeking approval to pay a senior barrister. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said the results of the registration of interest showed that the region was set to reap the jobs and investment rewards from the transformation of the energy system. The EPA also stipulated that Delta must investigate, mitigate and report on the causes of NOx emissions when the 1320-megawatt generator operates at less than half its capacity. Vales Point was originally equipped with three turbo-alternators of 200 MW supplied by the English Electric (unit nos. St Baker said that financing the projects would not be sought from Australian banks but instead would rely solely on international lenders. The energy and materials can be provided by either renewable power and water, orcoal and gas. The owner blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for reducing demand and an influx of cheaper renewables reducing wholesale electricity prices. [1], In 2017 it was valued at $732 million, and was estimated to make part-owner energy entrepreneur and former National Party candidate Trevor St Baker a half billionaire. It has two steam turbines, with a total generating capacity of 1,320 MW (1,770,000 hp) of electricity. Officials from the department told Senate Estimates in March that they were aware that Shine Energy was likely to fail to deliver a bankable feasibility study into a proposed Collinsville coal fired power station after an audit undertaken by the Australian National Audit Office found the $4 million in grant funding awarded to the company was not enough to ensure the study could be completed. Billionaire Trevor St Baker will reignite plans for a 20-year extension of NSW's Vales Point coal power station amid fears the early closure of Origin Energy's giant Eraring plant may lead to market volatility and higher prices. With this acquisition we will significantly strengthen our presence in Australia, said Sev.en chief executive Alan Svoboda. Plunging energy prices sink Vales Point power station The Vales Point coal-fired power station near the shores of Lake Macquarie, in NSW. Vales Point Power Station is one of two operating coal fired power stations on the shores of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales. With only an approximately seven-year operating life now remaining, and a very weak wholesale electricity forward curve, we believe Yallourns permanent exit may still be even earlier than now planned, Goldman Sachs analyst Baden Moore said. The Toshiba 660 MW turbo-alternator became the standard in New South Wales, with similar units later being installed at Eraring, Bayswater and Mount Piper. The turbines were removed in 1997; the boilers and buildings were demolished between 201114. Delta has been contacted for further comment. fair dinkum" baseload power generation after the Federal Government lost a public battle with generator AGL over the closure of Liddell power station in 2022. Delta said it complies with the reduced limits for emissions imposed in December 2021 and noted that Vales Point has lower licence limits for NOx than some other generators in NSW such as AGL Energys Bayswater and EnergyAustralias Mt Piper plants. The script is starkly similar when it comes to water pollution from Vales Point, with offsite water contamination from the south-east portion of the ash dump identified in the Environment Protection Licence this year. The Hunter Hydrogen Hub will drive new low carbon jobs and help to set up the regionfor the future, Mr Kean will say. In public comments this week, the current owner of Vales Point, Trevor St Baker, indicated that Sev.en may seek to keep the station open beyond its current closure date of 2029, saying the. Help using this website - Accessibility statement, Alinta Energys Hong Kong-based owner Chow Tai Fook Enterprises is understood, EnergyAustralias owner CLP Group, also based in Hong Kong, is in the market, AGL Energy is struggling to determine its forward strategy. Future Sooner is a community action group working towards a clean energy future for the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie. Environment groups question whether ageing stations exemptions from some pollution standards are valid. Before joining RenewEconomy, Michael worked in climate and energy policy for more than a decade. Delta Electricity knocked back in February a $9 million government grant to upgrade one of the plants turbines. Andy Saunders 1 year ago John John 1 year ago Andy Saunders 1 year ago We oppose this sale as it is NOT in the local, state or national interest: These four units were known as 'A' Station, its capacity of 875 MW being the highest in New South Wales at the time. Early closure of Australia's largest coal-fired plant could create Its a two years exemption, then we can apply for another period of time. The Nature Conservation Council of NSW said that, unlike previous exemptions, this one cannot be extended beyond October 2027. All rights reserved. EnergyAustralia announced on Wednesday its Yallourn coal plant would close in 2028, four years ahead of the previous deadline. Coal is carbon. Whoever owns these assets, I want to make sure they are acting in the interests of the citizens of this state, not for vested interests, he said. It is the second instance of the Morrison government failing to secure investment in new coal-fired generation infrastructure by offering insufficient funding support, following earlier revelations that the government had not provided sufficient grant funding to ensure proponents of a coal-fired power station in Queensland could complete a bankable feasibility study. Thermochemical reactions drive the other two methods. In December last year, Vales Point was issued with an order to limit its emissions of nitrogen oxide. Leading Edge Energy is proud to be a signatory of the National Customer Code for Energy Brokers, Consultants and Retailers. These are known as blue hydrogen. It listed Eraring, Vales Point and Mt Piper in NSW and Yallourn in Victoria as most vulnerable. Delta Electricity and Mr St Bakers Energy Innovation Fund did not respond to calls for comment. The power stations end of technical life is set for 2029. Mr St Baker would not reveal the price of the deal, but said we didnt get close to $700 million. Vales Point Power Station will have its limits on nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions cut by up to 35% to meet new national air quality standards in the local community, and will have to adhere to strict new monitoring and reporting conditions from next year. Lake Macquarie Home Fishing Fishing closures, restrictions and permits Lake Macquarie The above closures are generated from the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019 unless otherwise specified. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. Granted in December last year, the exemption allows the operators to emit a higher level of nitrogen oxide than usually allowable under clean air regulations. Managing director Greg Everett said the decision was not due to plans for an early closure, but rather the grant approval process and timing did not meet the companys own timeline for having works completed. Kean confirmed exemptions granted to Delta during the purchase including a cap of $10m on rehabilitation likely to cost hundreds of millions of dollars would remain in place despite the sale. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. In 1978, two Toshiba 660 MW units were added, becoming "B" Station. Cockle Creek Power Station was located in Teralba, New South Wales, Australia on the banks of Cockle Creek. The facility is old, dirty, and poorly maintained. It is understood that the joint owner of Delta, and significant political donor, Trevor St Baker, had been told informally in early 2020 that it was set to receive $11 million in grant funding from the Morrison government to fund the $20 million turbine upgrade. One uses gas and the other uses coal or gas, and for either to be a clean energy source they require carbon capture and storage to stop the emissions from the fossil fuels entering the atmosphere. Its like selling an unregistered car. [2] However, in December 2021, the value of the plant was cut to $156 million and the annual profit was reduced 93% to $9.3 million. In December 2017, Origin Energy announced that it would close the . This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. (Delta Electricity have also flagged the possibility of the proposed plant being built on the the site of the nearby Liddell power station, which is slated for closure in 2022. The Vales Point Power Plant is currently set for closure in 2029, but the EPA ruling delivered on 28 October 2022 could bring that date forward to 2025. Vales Point uses salt water from Lake Macquarie for cooling. Cooking with gas: How bad for your health is it, really? The Vales Point power station has been operating on the shores of Lake Macquarie since the 1960's and was constructed before NSW environmental protection laws came into effect. the nominal closure of Vales Point . The coal-fired Vales Point power plant in New South Wales must cut nitrogen oxide emissions within two years or may face early closure after a ruling by the Environment Protection Authority. However, a 2015 report from the state government's Coal Innovation Fund says the CCS . In 2021, the Vales Point Power Station emitted more toxic nitrogen oxide pollutants than allowable under the NSW Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2021. Mr St Bakers proposal for a singleNSW plant and two new power stations in Victorias Latrobe Valleywas slammed by environment and community groups, who said the high-efficiency, low-emission plants were only one-third less polluting than highly polluting old power stations on the proposed sites. Australia might face electricity supply shortages - AEMO While Delta secretary Steve Gurney said the sale of Vales Point was a completely unrelated commercial matter to the emissions issue, Nature Conservation Council chief executive, Jacqui Mumford, said the new owners should be required to slash the stations pollution so that people across NSW can breathe healthier air. When there are renewable energy alternatives available, like the Star of the South project, that will generate clean energy and create local jobs, there is no excuse for building more, big polluting coal projects that pollute our air and make our communities sick, Ms Rivers said. Victoria's potential crunch comes with the 2028-29 closure of the Yallourn power plant in the. Wikimedia. Coal plants list deadlines when their operating life is set to cease, but Dr Mountain said Victoria has secured a valuable guarantee that Yallourn will be available to produce until 2028, and if the company brings forward closure the state will receive compensation. The EPA has the chance to take a good look at this before issuing the new owners with a licence to pollute, she said. Unit no. The sale reportedly netted Delta $200m despite the company paying only $1m to buy it from the NSW government in 2015, prompting the states opposition to accuse the Coalition of having dudded taxpayers over the sale. Sep 18, 2022 - 3.16pm Energy entrepreneur Trevor St Baker and coal investor Brian Flannery will sell their Vales Point coal-fired power station in NSW for several hundred million dollars to. [3] The plan for a new 660-MW plant appears to be cancelled. For more detailed local information see the Lake Macquarie Hunter Recreational Fishing Guide Back to top Vales Point was the first major power station in New South Wales to be located near its fuel source (coal). The operator applied for an exemption granted in December 2021 with a reduction variation and additional conditions imposed by the NSW Environment Protection Agency. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Mr St Baker said he was looking for international investors after Australian banks and major lenders ruled out exposure to coal project funding, in part because of climate change stranded asset risks. Eraring and Vales Point power stations could be running multi-million dollar annual losses by 2025, the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis report found. Energy Australia to close Yallourn power station early and build 350 Future: Part of the Vales Point power station on the Central Coast. The largest coal plant in the state AGLs 2880 MW Eraring Power Station, will be closed in 2025. Coal-fired power will be needed to keep the lights on for another couple of decades, said Mr St Baker, who is an investor in fast charging system provider Tritium, which listed in New York early this year, and Evie Networks, among other energy interests. Carbon Monitoring for Action estimates that Vales Point emits 9.32 million tonnes of greenhouse gases per year from burning coal. Delta said it did not make financial sense to proceed with the upgrade with the smaller grant amount, given ongoing uncertainty in the energy market and the looming closure of the power station, currently slated for 2029. The transaction still needs to be completed, with approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board outstanding. He floated the proposal only two weeks after the NSW Environment Protection Authority ordered Vales Point owner Delta Electricity to clean up a huge part of the power stations ash dam after dumped asbestos was found in building waste fill. Energy entrepreneur Trevor St Baker and coal investor Brian Flannery will sell their Vales Point coal-fired power station in NSW for several hundred million dollars to a private Czech firm in what represents a further upheaval in the fast-changing sector. Victoria Energy Policy Centre director Bruce Mountain said the Victorian government had struck an entirely sensible deal with EnergyAustralia to bring forward closure at Yallourn, which provided a long lead time of seven years for the market to fill gaps in power supply by 2028. We continue to invest in the reliability of Vales Point to its notional closure in 2029. Delta Coal which supplies Vales Point have an active proposal to continue mining largely exploited seams, ommunity fears over worsening pollution impacts from this aging facility under this potential new ownership, RSVP for updates and an invitation in 2023. The combined capacity of 2195 MW made Vales Point the largest power station in Australia at the time. The power stationed operated from 11 March 1927 until March 1976. Only this week did the Federal Government flag that commercial interest in the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) has been significant. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Energy Australia will close the Yallourn power station in Victoria's Latrobe Valley in mid-2028, four years ahead of schedule, and build a giant battery instead. In February, Prime Minister Scott Morrison promised Liberal party donor and part owner Trevor St Baker that an $11 million grant would be going his way to make upgrades. In the context of the confluence of the above factors, Delta will not pursue the Vales Point power station efficiency project. Federal Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor said last month that the industrys potential cannot be ignored and argued that Australia can attract $70 billion of investments over the next decade. Vales Point A (replacement) power station is a proposal by Delta Electricity to build a new 660 MW plant on the site of the demolished Vales Point A plant in New South Wales, Australia. and Evie Networks, among other energy interests. Phone: 02 4352 6111 Mr St Bakers proposal was also raised as the Federal Government approved the controversial Wallarah 2 underground coal mine north of Wyong, leading critics to warn the government could kiss goodbye to the Liberal-held Central Coast seat of Robertson because the community strongly opposes amine in the regions water catchment. Its been a double whammyin the last couple of days first Wallarah 2, which is the Central Coasts Adani, and now this, another coal-fired power station proposal., Read more:Department of Planning gives green light for Vales Point solar energy project. Vales Point power station - Global Energy Monitor Two years on from the sale, the facility was valued at $722M. Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning. AGL said it was still committed to its plans for Liddell. Vales Point is located on the southern shore of the lake, near the township of Mannering Park. To learn more, read our Privacy Policy. However. Vales point already has an exemption licence to pollute over and above NSW emission controls. Vales Point is located on the southern shore of the lake, near the township of Mannering Park. Delta Energys plans for Vales Point power station at Mannering Park will go unchanged despite the announcement by Origin Energy on February 17 that it will close Eraring Australias largest power station seven years early. [citation needed], In November 2015, the Government of New South Wales sold Delta Electricity, which at that time owned only the Vales Point Power Station, to Sunset Power International for $1 million. It is not what the community wants, because of climate change, and because of the environmental impacts of coal-fired power on our health. On the international front the Morrison government has committed $70 million to help develop a regional hydrogen export hub, and Australia has signed agreements with Japan, Korea, Germany and Singapore to investigate hydrogen supply chains. Mr St Baker said Evie Networks was moving into a capital-intensive phase with the rollout of 300 fast charging stations around Australia, while he was also involved in developing e-mobility in the Philippines. They would be Australias first high-efficiency, low emissions stations, Mr St Baker said. The Morrison governments low emissions investment road map is technology neutral which meanspublic funding is availableto green and blue hydrogen. It is also gearing up to invest more in the business as it seeks approval for a license to allow mining to continue until 2029. Energy analysts said the renewables-led collapse in average prices across the nations electricity grid was so severe that the 1480-megawatt facility supplying up to 22 per cent of the states power could close even sooner than expected. Commercial interest has been registered in 24 solar energy projects; 13 onshore and seven offshore wind energy projects; 35 large-scale batteries and eight pumped hydro projects. Leading Edge Energy is an energy brokerage firm in Australia that specialises in energy cost reduction, solar and storage procurement, electricity and natural gas-use monitoring and reporting for commercial and industrial clients. Vales Point was commissioned in 1978, and its two turbines generate 1,320 megawatts of electricity, accounting for 11 percent of NSW's energy. If the sale goes through, it will continue to pollute long past its slated 2029 closure date. NSW has committed to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions, and the Hunter region is zoned for renewable energy development to help reach the goal. The analysis found if power prices continued to decline, Yallourn, along with the Eraring, Mt Piper, Vales Point B and Gladstone black coal plants would be making a loss by 2025. The role of Deltas Vales Point power station in two devastating fish kills that took place in mid-2002 in Wyee Bay are currently under investigation by the NSW EPA. Vales Point power station is a major source of NOx on the Central Coast and beyond. Cockle Creek Power Station - Wikipedia Currently the sale is under investigation by the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) with its decision to be announced in mid-October 2022. The funding was to be provided as an ad hoc grant under the Morrison governments Underwriting New Generation Investments (UNGI) program, meaning the funds could only be used for Delta Electricitys proposed upgrades. The region has significantly higher than national rates of six cancers: Colorectal (14% higher), Head & Neck (26%), Kidney (23%), Liver (26%), Lung (28%) and Pancreatic (17%). Delta Electricity, which is jointly owned by Trevor St Baker and Brian Flannery, announced early in 2019 that it was seeking support for the proposal from the Australian Government's Underwriting New Generation Investments program. The other legacies of coal power include environmental and community impact that cannot be ignored as the closure of power stations take place in NSW. This page was last edited on 30 April 2021, at 11:25. September 2022 Delta Electricity agreed to sell to Czech company, Sev.en Global Investments. Correspondence obtained by RenewEconomy through a freedom of information request shows that Delta Electricity cited ongoing policy uncertainty, questions about the long-term future of the plant and an inadequate funding offer from the Morrison government as reasons for cancelling proposed upgrades to Vales Point.