TRUenergy seeks development approval for two new gas fired power stations in Queensland
TRUenergy is seeking development approval for two high-efficiency gas-fired power stations in Queensland to meet forecast increases in electricity demand in the state.
The two power stations will be developed in Ipswich, close to the projected population growth areas of southeast Queensland, and in Gladstone in central Queensland, which is projected to be a major hub for industrial growth. Both sites are close to existing infrastructure connections.
TRUenergy’s Managing Director, Richard McIndoe, said: “We are proposing to develop the power stations using the newest natural gas-fired turbines, which will emit less carbon than existing coal-fired power plants.
“Queensland is the right state for these developments. The Australian Electricity Market Operator has forecast that the state will have a shortfall in energy reserves of between 341MW-779MW by 2013-2014.
“Additional investment in new power stations will be needed in order to meet the growing needs of households, business and industry.
“Our decision has also been encouraged by the State Government’s energy supply strategy, released in November last year and which reinforced the importance of private investment in energy supply.”
The permitting process will occur over the next 12 months. Subject to the receipt of all permitting and development approvals, construction could begin as early as 2013.
The power stations will be developed in stages to match the growth in electricity demand with the initial units sized at around 500MW and have a total capacity of up to 1500MW. They are expected to be able to meet the projected growth in demand for electricity in Queensland for the next 10 years and at full capacity they would increase the state’s generation capacity by a total of more than 20%.
The initial investment will be around $400 million and at full capacity each power station would represent an investment of up to $1.8 billion.
TRUenergy will seek to have the sites permitted for both open cycle and combined cycle gas turbine technology. A final decision on the most appropriate technology to match the electricity demand can be taken prior to construction. If open cycle technology is used it will be flexible enough to be converted to combined cycle at a later stage as required.
The Blackstone Power Station will be built on an existing 500 hectare industrial park in Ipswich, close to the Swanbank B coal-fired power station that is due to cease operations in the first half of 2012.
The other power station will be known as the Aldoga Power Station and will be built in the 26,000 hectare Gladstone State Development Area on a site that has been zoned for heavy industrial use.
TRUenergy has already developed and now operates one of Australia’s most efficient thermal power stations, the combined cycle gas-fired Tallawarra Power Station near Wollongong in New South Wales.
