Tallawarra A High Efficiency Upgrade

Tallawarra A is on the traditional Country of the Dharawal peoples. EnergyAustralia respects and acknowledges their continued connection to Country, culture and community.  

The project

In 2024 the Tallawarra A power station will undergo an upgrade to increase its efficiency.   The upgrade will use new technology and improved materials to increase Tallawarra A’s nominal output from 400 MW to 440 MW and increase its maximum output capacity from 440 MW to 480 MW

Why it’s needed

The Tallawarra A power station is a reliable and vital electricity generation facility. The upgrade allows EnergyAustralia to continue to support the transition to renewable energy. Gas-fired generation, potentially fuelled by hydrogen, will play a crucial role as coal-fired generation retires, both to help manage extended periods of low variable renewable energy output and to provide grid security and stability. The upgrade will increase:

• Efficiency of the power station, by minimising natural gas consumption
• Stability of network voltage to within a standard range across the NSW electricity network
• Strength of the NSW electricity network and the National Electricity Market (NEM) with three of the five major coal fired power stations scheduled for closure over the next six years
• Reliability of the power station by improving critical components to extend major outage intervals from five years to eight years, and minimising power station downtime.

The upgrade would also make the power station ‘hydrogen capable’ which would enable future opportunities to further reduce carbon emissions (subject to separate approval). Should this be pursued, subject to commercial considerations, this would create a sustainable demand for hydrogen development in the NSW market.

Project timeline

The proposal is anticipated to take two months and expected to be completed in 2024

Latest news

The Tallawarra A High Efficiency upgrade received its development consent on 6 February 2024. This work is currently underway and is expected to be completed in January 2025.

Out of Hours Work

EnergyAustralia commenced a High Efficiency upgrade our Tallawarra A combined cycle power station adjacent on Yallah Bay Road, Yallah in October this year.

Although major construction activities are now completed, testing and commissioning work to bring Tallawarra A back online may need to be carried out outside of approved construction hours. Noise levels associated with remaining activities are more in line with normal maintenance and operation of the Tallawarra Power Station.

Construction hours are:

• 00:00 to 24:00, Monday to Saturday, inclusive of public holidays
• Sundays 6:00 AM to Monday 6:00

Additional work may take place on Sundays between 8 and 31 December 2024.

All works will be completed in accordance with approved management plans and the Project Environmental Protection Licence.

What to expect

• Final Measurements of Reinstalled Components: Conducting precise measurements to ensure all components are correctly aligned and functioning.
• Preparation for Pre-Commissioning: Activities necessary to prepare the system for operational testing, including system checks and safety verifications.
• Commissioning Work: Actual commissioning of the systems, ensuring they operate as intended and meet all regulatory and safety standards.
   

Our noise modelling indicates no standard construction noise greater than 10dB above rating background levels at any residence during these hours will be generated during the works, which is consistent with the noise levels of normal maintenance performed under the approval and will not affect sensitive receivers near the power station.