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Two Coal-Fired Power Stations in Australia Demolish Structures as Sites Transition to New Uses

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Power Station Demolitions Mark Shift in Australia's Energy Landscape

Two major power station structures were demolished in New South Wales and Tasmania, underscoring Australia's transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Liddell Power Station (New South Wales)

The two 170-metre-tall chimneys of the Liddell Power Station in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, were demolished in a controlled explosion on a Tuesday. The station, owned by AGL, was retired in April 2023 after 52 years of operation.

"The demolition signifies the site's transition to an industrial energy hub." — Brad Williams, AGL site transition general manager

Demolition Details

  • The chimneys had a base diameter of 20 metres, tapering to 10 metres at the top.
  • Approximately 700 holes were drilled at the base and packed with explosives to cut triangular sections, directing the fall.
  • Chris Druery, Liddell station's closure manager, described the process as similar to felling a tree, with explosives cutting a wedge to control the direction. The demolition was streamed online.

Historical Context

  • Liddell Power Station was the largest of its kind when fully operational in 1973.
  • It was among the 1% of power stations globally to operate for over 50 years.
  • During its lifetime, it generated approximately 431,000 gigawatt hours of electricity. At its peak, the plant supplied electricity to about one million homes annually.

Steve Lanesbury, a former employee who worked at the station for 44 years, expressed that the demolition signified the end of an era.

Future Use

AGL is developing the site, now called the Hunter Energy Hub. Proposals include solar panel manufacturing, recycling, and a data hub. A 500-megawatt, 2-hour battery is being commissioned for energy storage, including from renewable sources.

Statements

Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources director Paul Ebert noted that this is the first large-scale thermal power station to reach the demolition phase in the state's energy transition.

Jacqui Mumford, chief executive of the Nature Conservation Council NSW, said the demolition demonstrates the transition to clean energy is already underway.

NSW Premier Chris Minns stated the power station had been an important source of energy and thanked workers.

Background

  • Over the past 18 months, the site has been cleaned and disconnected, with about a million litres of oil recycled.
  • The neighbouring Bayswater Power Station, also owned by AGL, is scheduled to close in 2033.
  • The demolition occurs amid NSW's ongoing transition from coal-fired power to renewable energy sources.
  • A parliamentary inquiry heard that the Minns government's coal industry statement, allowing continued mine expansions, was inconsistent with advice from the NSW Net Zero commission.

Bell Bay Power Station (Tasmania)

The final structure at Tasmania's Bell Bay power station—a 110-metre-tall smokestack—was demolished in a controlled event by Hydro Tasmania on Monday morning. Activities at the site have been inactive since its decommissioning in 2009.

"The transformation of a former fossil fuel power plant site into a renewables hub signifies Tasmania's commitment to renewable energy." — Susie Bower, CEO, Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone

Demolition Details

  • 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-metre exclusion zone was enforced on land, and Marine and Safety Tasmania issued a prohibited area notice for waters within 500 metres of the site.
  • Similar demolitions of the boiler room and control building occurred in October and September, respectively.

Historical Context

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. 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 Use

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 use Tasmania's renewable energy resources for the production of green hydrogen and methanol fuel.

Statements

ABEL Energy executive chairman Michael van Baarle stated that the demolition marked a significant milestone for the project. The company is seeking investors and targets construction before the end of the decade, with operations expected to begin by the close of 2030.

State Energy Minister Nick Duigan 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.