Kareeya Hydro’s 50-year milestone was officially commemorated at an onsite ceremony, with special guest the Queensland Minister for Main Roads and Local Government, the Honourable Warren Pitt MP.
Located in the World Heritage Wet Tropics area of Far North Queensland, Kareeya Hydro doesn’t emit any greenhouse gas emissions. The hydro operates within a certified ISO 14001 Environmental Management System and is an accredited green generator.
“Stanwell has been at the forefront of developing and managing innovative and green energy generation sites since the company’s inception more than ten years ago,” Mr Pitt said at the launch.
“Kareeya Hydro, as one of the cleanest sources of electricity production, certainly plays an important role in the electricity supply network.”
The upgrades made to the hydro throughout its life have not only delivered a reliable supply of electricity to the Far North Queensland region, but also ensure the station’s ongoing capacity to meet future demand for many years to come.
Stanwell Chief Executive Officer Kim Wood said the 50th anniversary marked a significant achievement in both the history of Kareeya Hydro and the overall security of electricity supply to Far North Queensland.
“As a provider of an essential service, our investment in Kareeya Hydro is part of our long-term commitment to Far North Queensland and to generating low cost, reliable, environmentally responsible electricity,” Mr Wood said.
In 2005, Stanwell delivered on a three-year upgrade program at Kareeya Hydro to extend the life of the power station by
25 years and increase station capacity by 12 MW.
These upgrades resulted in an additional 20 per cent generation per annum, with an improvement in station availability and a 4 per cent improvement in turbine efficiency.
“In total, the mid-life upgrades which Stanwell has undertaken over the last seven years will result in the replacement and upgrade of most of Kareeya Hydro’s original equipment, at a total investment of more than $30 million,” Mr Wood said.
History
By harnessing the energy of water in motion, Kareeya Hydro Power Station has been providing clean, efficient electricity to Queenslanders since 1957. Since its commissioning, the station’s ability to start quickly has proved important in ensuring a secure, reliable power supply for distribution to consumers.
Taking its name from the Aboriginal word meaning ‘Big Water’, there have been several upgrades to the project over the course of its life. The station’s current capacity of 84 MW is bid into the National Electricity Market and its positioning as one of the most northern generating sites within the National Electricity Market is a vital component of Queensland’s electricity supply infrastructure.
The Tully River drains the wettest area in Australia and due to its steep descent of more than 455 metres, is particularly favourable for hydroelectric generation.
Investigations into harnessing the Tully Falls started in 1946 when the Cairns Regional Electricity Board commenced operation.
A comparative economic study was undertaken to determine the best option for the supply of power to the developing region and it was determined that the present day Kareeya Hydro, not far below the Tully Falls, was the best option. On 25 February 1950, an Order-in-Council was made authorising the Coordinator General to allocate finance and supervise the civil engineering works.
The Coordinator General of Public Works was the project’s constructing authority, with the Cairns Regional Electricity Board responsible for the electrical and mechanical section of the project, including construction of the transmission lines. The Department of Main Roads constructed the access roads and bridges. The anticipated cost was £7.5 million.
Several stages were proposed for the construction of the scheme, however, the final design resulted in the construction of a water storage area (Koombooloomba Dam) and regulating pond (Tully Falls Diversion Weir), a series of inclined tunnels feeding into four turbo-generating sets contained in a machine room and an outlet tunnel returning water back to the Tully River.
