As Australia moves with increased environmental awareness to a lower emissions economy, natural gas-fired power generation provides a quick and viable solution. Gas-fired power stations generate approximately 70 per cent less green house gas emissions than coal-fired power stations, consuming approximately 80 per cent less water in the production process.

Gas-fired power can also be used in conjunction with renewable energy to provide intermittent or peaking generation.

A report completed by ACIL Tasman for the Energy Supply Association of Australia has said that gas-fired power generation will triple by 2020. It has predicted 7,000 megawatts (MW) of installed gas-fired plant capacity will be available using 375 petajoules per annum (PJ/a), up from current levels of 139 PJ/a.

CSG generation developing in Queensland A number of power stations have been proposed for Queensland that will use the state’s vast coal seam gas (CSG) reserves as feedstock.

One such project is Arrow Energy and ERM Power’s joint development of the 450 MW Braemar 2 Power Station, located approximately 40 km west of Dalby in southern Queensland and adjacent to the existing Braemar 1 Power Station. The estimated $545 million plant is expected to produce enough electricity to power up to 150,000 homes when completed.

Close to the Braemar site, Origin Energy has commenced construction of the 630 MW coal seam gas-fired Darling Downs Power Station. GE and CH2M Hill commenced construction in August, with GE supplying three gas turbines with a capacity of 120 MW each and a 270 MW capacity steam turbine. The plant is expected to be commissioned in late 2009, with full commercial operation set for early 2010.

A 400–600 MW gas-fired power station has been proposed by Queensland Gas Company (QGC), ANZ Infrastructure Services and Toyota Tsusho Corporation. The station will form part of the Berwyndale South Gas Hub to be supplied from QGC’s CSG reserves in southern Queensland and is expected to power between 320,000 and 500,000 homes.

QGC Managing Director Richard Cottee said “We are confident that the proposals by the NSW Government to change the landscape for the future of power generation will have widespread and long term benefits.”

The $500–$750 million station is expected to produce electricity by mid- 2012.

QGC also plans to develop the Condamine Power Station, which will be constructed on the company’s Berwyndale South Gas Field and will directly supply the national electricity market. The 135 MW combined cycle gas-fired power station is scheduled to be constructed by July 2009 and will use QGC’s CSG and water recovered as part of the gas production process.

In Ipswich, CS Energy is planning a new Swanbank F Power Station to accompany its existing 385 MW Swanbank E Power Station, which was commissioned in 2002. The new gas-fired station will have a capacity of between 400 and 500 MW.

NSW peaking with gas In 2005, the New South Wales Government released an Energy Directions Green Paper, which demonstrated that peak demand in the state is growing much faster than average demand. Peak demand occurs during hot summer days and cold winter days when there is a high immediate demand for cooling or heating. Several power stations have been developed throughout the state in order to meet this demand.

Delta Electricity and EnergyAustralia have sought approval from the New South Wales Minister for Planning to build two separate gas turbine peaking facilities adjacent to the Marulan Switchyard, near Brayton.

Delta’s Marulan Gas Facility will be completed in two stages. The first stage will see the construction of two open cycle gas turbines with the total capacity of approximately 250–350 MW. The second stage involves converting the two turbines to a combined cycle configuration with a total capacity of approximately 400–450 MW. Depending on growth in electricity demand, Delta may bypass Stage 1 and progress immediately to the construction of the combined cycle plant.

EnergyAustralia’s peaking facility would be developed in a single stage and would comprise two open cycle gas turbines with a total capacity of 350 MW.

Delta is also proposing a gas turbine facility at the existing Munmorah Power Station site, which would operate as a peaking plant to supply electricity at short notice during these times of high demand. The proposed facility will be located within the grounds of the Munmorah Power Station and will comprise of four gas turbines. Delta has proposed that existing infrastructure and power lines on the site will be utilised where appropriate.

Meanwhile, Origin is developing a 400 MW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station at Tallawarra near Wollongong. The Tallawarra Power Station is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will help maintain supply reliability for New South Wales’ consumers and support further economic development in the Illawarra region.

Origin is also constructing the 640 MW Uranquinty Power Station in the south of the state. The $500 million station is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

Other gas-fired power stations proposed for New South Wales include Loran Energy Products plans for a $350 million 300 MW gas-fired power station 20 km southwest of Moss Vale and International Power’s 120- 150 MW Parkes Peaking Power Plant.

South of Casino, Metgasco will develop the 30 MW Richmond Valley Power Station. The plant will be supplied with gas by Metgasco’s adjacent Casino Gas Project. The project has been declared a Major Project by the New South Wales Minister for Planning and is scheduled for commissioning in mid-2010.

Gas on the drawing board for Victoria Two major gas-fired plants are currently planned for western Victoria. Origin is constructing a $1.2 billion 1,000 MW Mortlake Power Station 12 km west of Mortlake in western Victoria. Scheduled to be completed by 2011, the plant is expected to emit half the greenhouse gases of a black coal-fired station of the same size.

Meanwhile, Santos recently announced its plan to construct the 500 MW Shaw River Power Station near Orford. The company expects the CCGT power station will cost $800 million. The first phase of the station will be expandable to a three CCGT 1,500 MW plant, supplying power to the eastern Australian energy grid.

Gas – the apple of Tasmania’s eye In Tasmania, a 210 MW CCGT power station is being developed by AETV Power, a subsidiary of Aurora Energy. The Tamar Valley Power Station is located at Bell Bay, approximately 5 km south of George Town in Tasmania. The project is estimated to cost $33 million and will have additional backup/peaking capacity provided through 180 MW of open cycle units which are expected to be fully operational by March 2009.

Western Australia powers up The NewGen Kwinana Power Station, a 320 MW CCGT power station is being built at Kwinana in Western Australia, approximately 30 km south of Perth. The $400 million station is being developed by ERM Power and will generate base load power that will be supplied to Western Power under a 25 year contract.

NewGen Kwinana will be a modern, high efficiency CCGT with supplementary duct firing to increase output from the steam cycle when required. It is expected to be completed in late 2008 and will provide electricity into the South West Interconnected System.

ERM is also developing the Neerabup Power Station - a 330 MW open cycle gas turbine power station in Neerabup, 50 km north of Perth. Commercial operations are expected to commence in May 2009.

Meanwhile, the Western Australian Government’s Economic Regulation Authority has already granted Eneabba a 30-year Generation License for the construction and operation of the 168 MW Centauri-1 Power Station at Steele Road, approximately 8 km east of Dongara.

Gas for the future The number of gas-fired power generation projects on the horizon bodes well for Australia’s transition to a low emission energy sector.

With the development of new gas resources in Australia, such as the CSG fields in Queensland, it is likely more gasfired generation facilities will be created as companies commercialise their reserves.

The use of gas as a peaking fuel will enable a cleaner alternative to coal-fired generation and ensure a reliable energy supply while renewables ramp up around the nation.