Tallawarra B project will deliver reliable power to customers in NSW
NSW is set to become home to Australia’s first dual fuel capable hydrogen/gas power plant following an $83 million funding agreement for the Tallawarra B project in the Illawarra.
Located on the traditional Country of the Dharawal peoples at EnergyAustralia’s existing Tallawarra power station site, the Tallawarra B project will deliver Australia’s first hydrogen and gas capable power plant, with direct carbon emissions from the project offset over its operational life. The power plant will be ready for the summer of 2023-24.
In peak periods, the fast-start open cycle power station will deliver reliable power to an additional 150,000 New South Wales homes. Its construction will contribute $300 million to the economy and create about 250 jobs during construction.
Once built, Tallawarra B will play a vital role in maintaining system security, complementing renewables coming into the system, and provide reliable power to customers in New South Wales.
EnergyAustralia’s Tallawarra power station has been in operation since 2009. It’s one of Australia’s most thermally efficient, large-scale, gas-fired power stations, with a generation capacity of 435 MW, which is enough to power up to 200,000 homes. The site currently employs around 35 people.
EnergyAustralia strives to be a good member of the community, including through its social investment program and its commitment to hire and procure locally from the Illawarra region when major maintenance is undertaken.
EnergyAustralia is also investigating a pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) project on Wiradjuri Country at Lake Lyell near Lithgow in New South Wales. The site could accommodate a facility capable of producing up to 350 megawatts (MW) of electricity with around eight hours of storage.
This is enough to power over 150,000 households during peak periods.
Mark Collette, Managing Director of EnergyAustralia says: “EnergyAustralia is working with the Illawarra Hydrogen Hub, to support the development of a green hydrogen industry in the region. We thank the New South Wales Government for its support for Tallawarra B. It means the station will be operating for the summer of 2023-24, ahead of the scheduled the closure of the Liddell power station, and it will help to kick start the green hydrogen industry.”