Munmorah power station
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Munmorah power station is a retired power station in Doyalson, New South Wales, Australia.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Munmorah power station | Doyalson, New South Wales, Australia | -33.212081, 151.542216 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 3, Unit 4: -33.212081, 151.542216
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 3 | retired | coal: bituminous | 300 | subcritical | 1969 | 2012 |
| Unit 4 | retired | coal: bituminous | 300 | subcritical | 1969 | 2012 |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 3 | Delta Electricity Pty Ltd [100%] | Engiana Establishment [100.0%] |
| Unit 4 | Delta Electricity Pty Ltd [100%] | Engiana Establishment [100.0%] |
Background
Munmorah power station, owned by Delta Electricity, is on the New South Wales Central Coast of New South Wales. The station began operating in 1967 with full commissioning in 1969.[1]
The power station initially comprised four 350 MW units with a total installed capacity of 1,400 MW. The units at Munmorah were downgraded to 300 MW capability in 1984 and Units 1&2 were decommissioned in 1996. Units 3&4 remained in service. In mid-2009 Delta Electricity proposed to upgrade the two ageing units to their original 350MW rated capacity and extend their life for a further 20 years. [2]
Despite considering an upgrade for the 'intermediate' power station, a drop in demand forced the company to re-assess its plans. In August 2010 the power station was placed on a 'standby' basis but no power generated from it.[1]
The closure of units 3-4 was announced in July 2012. The company stated that "decreasing energy demand in NSW has created an excess supply situation. Munmorah’s place in the market has been overtaken by newer and more efficient generators and alternative electricity sources. The station’s ageing infrastructure and high maintenance costs mean that it is not economically viable to operate. The carbon tax further erodes its viability."[3]
Retired coal plant site used for Waratah Super Battery
In October 2022, the New South Wales (NSW) government confirmed that a "700 MW/1,400 MWh Waratah Super Battery project [would] be built at the state-owned site of the former 1,400 MW coal-fired Munmorah Power Station" as part of an attempt to "accelerate the closure of the 2,880 MW Eraring coal-fired power station." [4]
In March 2023, it was reported that a tender for the battery had been awarded to Akaysha Energy, "a Melbourne-based battery developer that was bought last year by US investment company BlackRock." [5]
Carbon capture project
In 2010, a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project at Delta Electricity's now mothballed Munmorah power station was set for expansion, after receiving US$28 million in funding. The project was moved to Vales Point Power Station in 2012, after Munmorah closed. However, a 2015 report from the state government's Coal Innovation Fund says the CCS project has now been terminated, due to the Commonwealth withdrawing funding as well as a lack of suitable storage options being available in the foreseeable future. The project aimed to store up to 100-thousand tonnes of CO2 annually.[6]
Citizen action against Munmorah
November 27, 2008: Australian student blockade
On Thursday 27 November, four people from the Australian Student Environment Network entered the Munmorah Power Station on the NSW Central Coast, attaching themselves to conveyor belts carrying coal. Twenty people staged a protest outside the power station. Spokesperson Ann-Marie Rohlfs said, "We are facing a climate emergency, but our emissions are still rising. We call on the Rudd Government to ensure 2010 is the year Australia's greenhouse emissions peak and begin to rapidly decline. This blockade at the Munmorah Power Station is part of a huge community effort to kick Australia's coal habit. As the oldest power station in NSW, Munmorah Power station must be the first to go in the new green economy." Four people were arrested.[7]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Munmorah Power Station", Delta Electricity website, accessed January 2009.
- ↑ Aurecon, "Preliminary Environmental Assessment – Munmorah Rehabilitation", Delta Electricity, June 2009, page ii.
- ↑ Delta Electricity, "Munmorah Power Station to close after 45 years of operation", Media Release, July 3, 2012.
- ↑ NSW government settles on site for ‘super’ battery, PV magazine, October 17, 2022.
- ↑ Work on largest super battery in the world about to get underway in NSW, Cosmos Magazine, March 9, 2023.
- ↑ "Power station carbon capture and storage project terminated," abc.net.au, Aug 10, 2015
- ↑ Jessica Clement, "Oldest power station ‘must be closed’", Central Coast Express Advocate, November 27, 2008.
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
