The final structure at Tasmania's Bell Bay power station, a 110-meter-tall smokestack, was demolished in a controlled event by Hydro Tasmania on Monday morning. This demolition represents the latest stage in efforts by the state-owned energy company at the site, which has been inactive since its decommissioning in 2009.
Demolition activities commenced last year, with Hydro Tasmania anticipating completion in the coming weeks. The smokestack's controlled demolition involved a specialist contractor using 41 kilograms of explosives. A 400-meter exclusion zone was enforced on land, and Marine and Safety Tasmania issued a prohibited area notice for waters within 500 meters of the site. Similar demolitions of the boiler room and control building occurred in October and September, respectively.
Background of the Bell Bay Power Station
Constructed in the early 1970s, the Bell Bay power station was initially built as an oil-fired thermal power station to diversify Tasmania's energy infrastructure and provide security during periods of low dam levels. It was converted to gas operation in 2003 but ceased operations in 2009 following the establishment of Basslink, the state's first energy connection to mainland Australia, in 2006.
Future Plans: Renewable Energy Hub
In 2023, the site was designated as the future location for Bell Bay Powerfuels, a proposed $1.7 billion methanol fuel plant by ABEL Energy. This project aims to leverage Tasmania's renewable energy resources for the production of green hydrogen and methanol fuel.
ABEL Energy executive chairman Michael van Baarle stated that the demolition marked a significant milestone for the project. The company is actively seeking investors and targets the commencement of construction before the end of the decade, with operations expected to begin by the close of 2030.
Susie Bower, chief executive of the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone, commented that the transformation of a former fossil fuel power plant site into a renewables hub signifies Tasmania's commitment to renewable energy. State Energy Minister Nick Duigan also noted that green hydrogen is critical for Australia's energy future, viewing the demolition as a symbolic step towards future green hydrogen production in Tasmania.