Customer Portal login
Western Australia’s power grid will be boosted by 10 per cent in the lead up to summer, with the State’s most modern and efficient power station officially opened today.
NewGen Power’s Kwinana Power Station, which is a 320 MW “combined cycle” gas-fired base-load facility will supply power round-the-clock, providing critical extra capacity into the South-West Interconnect System (SWIS).
NewGen Power has also commenced construction of a 330MW open cycle gas turbine peaking power station in Neerabup, north of Perth, and this combined with the Kwinana Power Station represents more than an $800 million of investment in WA.
NewGen Power Kwinana Chairman Trevor St Baker said the power station was among the most efficient in the country, and was helping Western Australians reduce their carbon footprint.
“This is a combined cycle power station, which means that it produces electricity from two sources – gas and steam,” he said.
“The plant harnesses and uses the steam produced from the waste heat in the exhaust of the gas turbine to run a steam turbine, which means we are able to produce more power using less fuel, and significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the project.”
Mr St Baker said the power station – which began operations seven weeks ahead of schedule and under budget – reflected ERM’s long-term commitment to Western Australia.
The project will bring an estimated economic benefit in excess of $1 billion to the region during its operating life.
“Most importantly, the NewGen Kwinana Power Station is capable of delivering approximately 10 per cent of Western Australia’s electricity demand,” Mr St Baker said.
“This will ensure the State will be well covered this summer and for many years to come.”
WA Energy Minister Peter Collier, who opened the power station, said the project would ensure reliable power supplies to industry and underpin the State’s ongoing economic growth.
“One of the State Government’s primary objectives this year is to improve power reliability across the State,” he said.
“The Kwinana Power Station is an integral part of this initiative and will bring much-needed additional capacity to meet WA’s electricity requirements.”
Mr Collier said the station would provide low-cost, environmentally friendly electricity to WA, using gas from the North West Shelf delivered through the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline.
“The gas-fired operation reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to half and water consumption by up to 90 per cent compared with a conventional plant,” he said.
Since its inception, the NewGen Kwinana Power Station has used local skills and created more than 300 jobs during the construction phase. A further 20 ongoing jobs will be created.
The output from NewGen Kwinana Power Station is contracted to WA’s major electricity retailer, Synergy, from 1 December 2008.
ENDS
Media Contact:
Margaret Lawson, Cole Lawson Communications
Ph. (07) 3221 2220 or 0419 643 243
About the NewGen Power Kwinana Partnership
The NewGen Power Kwinana Partnership (“NewGen Power Kwinana”) is a partnership between energy solutions specialist ERM and international investment and advisory bank Babcock & Brown, through its listed fund Babcock & Brown Power. ERM led the development of Kwinana and continues as the lead developer, project manager, and construction manager.
About ERM
ERM is the largest privately owned developer and investor in power generation in Australia, having been the lead developer of a multi-billion dollar portfolio of energy projects across three States. ERM is active across the energy spectrum, from gas exploration, to electricity generation and retailing.
About Babcock & Brown Power
Babcock & Brown Power (ASX:BBP) is a power generation business, with assets diversified by geographic location, fuel source, customers, contract types, and operating mode.
The portfolio has interests in 12 operating power stations representing over 3,000MW of installed generation capacity and two power stations under construction. BBP has interests in a number of other associated power assets including the WA retail assets (Alinta). Babcock & Brown has been developing, operating, and acquiring the generation portfolio over 10 years.