Tallawarra power station

When complete, TRUenergy Tallawarra will also be Australia’s most environmentally efficient fossil fuel fired power station, producing 70 percent less carbon dioxide emissions than some coal fired power stations.

Using efficient, fast start ‘combined cycle’ generation technology not previously employed in NSW, TRUenergy Tallawarra will produce 400 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough power to supply 200,000 homes and businesses across NSW and around Australia.

TRUenergy will fully fund construction of the $350 million Tallawarra power station, due for completion by summer 2008/09.

The decision to invest in the world’s most energy efficient gas generation technology reflects the future direction of Australia’s energy supply sector as well as our commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Ongoing monitoring will ensure air, water and noise emissions from the site do not exceed legislated standards. An onsite water management system will also ensure the quality of water entering nearby Lake Illawarra will be better than average for the local catchment area.

The Tallawarra power station will have a significantly lower profile than the original coal-fired power station that used to be on the site.  Exhaust stacks, the highest point of the structure, will be lower than the high voltage transmission lines located near the site. In addition, extensive landscaping of the site will help the power station to blend in with its surroundings, reducing its visual impact.

Development of the power station will create 450 construction jobs and 25 to 30 ongoing positions, helping to make the Illawarra region a key energy production hub.

How does a combined cycle gas-fired power plant work?

Conventional or ‘single cycle’ gas fired electricity generators use either steam or hot gas vapours to produce electricity.  First, natural gas is burned to create either hot combustion gases or steam, which then pass through a turbine.  The turbine then drives a generator to produce electricity.  A combined cycle power plant generates electricity more efficiently by combining these two power generation methods.

Combustion gases from the turbine are captured and re-directed to a Heat Recovery Steam Generator to produce steam, which is then fed back into the turbine to create additional electricity. Steam is also captured and cooled to form water, which is then returned to the boiler to repeat the cycle.The result is a more efficient use of both natural gas and water.