Channel Island Power Station
{{Short description|Power station in the Northern Territory of Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox power station
| name = Channel Island Power Station
| name_official =
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| coordinates = {{coord |-12.554503|130.8665437 |region:AU-NT_type:landmark |display=inline,title}}
| country = Australia
| location = Channel Island, Northern Territory
| status = O
| construction_began =
| commissioned = 1986
| decommissioned =
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| owner = Territory Generation
| operator = Territory Generation
| th_fuel_primary = Natural gas
| th_fuel_secondary = Diesel
| th_technology =
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| ps_units_operational = 6
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| ps_units_decommissioned = 1
| ps_thermal_capacity =
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| ps_electrical_capacity = 279
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| website = {{URL|http://territorygeneration.com.au/home/our-power-stations/locations/channel-island-power-station/}}
}}
Channel Island Power Station is the largest power station in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is positioned on an island in the Middle Arm of Darwin Harbour, supplying electricity to the Darwin-Katherine Interconnected System.{{cite web |url=http://territorygeneration.com.au/home/our-power-stations/locations/channel-island-power-station/ |title=Channel Island Power Station |publisher=Territory Generation |accessdate=29 July 2018}} It is currently owned and operated by Territory Generation. Most of the island surrounding the facility is protected from development as the Channel Island Conservation Reserve.
History
Channel Island Power Station was built and commissioned in 1986 by the Power and Water Authority, a predecessor of PowerWater, replacing the Stokes Hill Power Station.{{cite web |url=https://www.powerwater.com.au/community_and_education/heritage/heritage_power_stations_in_darwin |title=Darwin's heritage power stations |accessdate=29 July 2018 |publisher=PowerWater |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729200648/https://www.powerwater.com.au/community_and_education/heritage/heritage_power_stations_in_darwin |archive-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=dead }} At the time of commissioning, Channel Island was the first combined cycle power plant in Australia, and the first to feature distributive digital control systems with screen-based controls.{{cite web|url=https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.trustadvocate.org.au%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F04%2FPaper.Thermal-Power-Station-Heritage-in-Australia.V7.Sept-2013.doc&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK|title=Thermal Power Station Heritage in Australia|author=Owen Peake|work=Trust Advocate|publisher=National Trust of Australia (Victoria)|accessdate=9 January 2022}}
In 2008, it was supplemented by the nearby Weddell Power Station which became operational that year, however Channel Island still provided 48% of the Territory's total power generation, with an installed capacity of 232 MW in 2010. At that time, plant in use at Channel Island included 5 General Electric generators capable of running on either natural gas or diesel fuel in addition to a more modern 40MW GE LM6000 gas turbine generator installed by Leighton Contractors.{{cite web |url=http://www.cpbcon.com.au/projects/channel-island-power-station/ |title=Channel Island Power Station General Augmentation |publisher=CPB Contractors|accessdate=29 July 2018}} A steam turbine was also in place to generate electricity from waste heat produced by units C4 and C5.{{cite web|url=https://utilicom.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/742976/2008-09-Power-System-Review-final.pdf|title=Power System Review: 2008-09|publisher=Northern Territory Utilities Commission|date=March 2010|accessdate=9 January 2022}}
Two new Rolls-Royce Trent 60 gas turbines were commissioned to expand the capacity of the power station in 2011.{{cite web |url=https://www.rolls-royce.com/media/press-releases-archive/yr-2012/120426-northern-territory.aspx |title=Rolls-Royce technology boosts electricity generation in Australia's Northern Territory |date=26 April 2012 |accessdate=30 July 2018 |publisher=Rolls-Royce Holdings}} These two turbines can each generate 58MW of electricity and collectively increased the generation capacity on the Darwin-Katherine power system by 25%.{{cite news |url=https://www.power-technology.com/contractors/powerplantequip/rolls-royce/pressreleases/presselectricity-generation-australias/ |title=Rolls-Royce Technology Boosts Electricity Generation in Australia’s Northern Territory |date=25 April 2012 |work=Power Technology|publisher=Verdict Media|accessdate=30 July 2018}}
Between 2011 and 2014, the power station's control systems were integrated with all three units at Weddell Power Station, allowing centralised control from Channel Island.{{cite web|url=https://provecta.com.au/project/weddell-power-station-controls-upgrade/|title=Weddell Power Station Controls Upgrade|publisher=Provecta Energy Solutions|accessdate=9 January 2022}} Ownership of both facilities transferred to Territory Generation when it was separated from PowerWater in 2014.
As of 2020, unit C3, an original 1986 General Electric Frame 6 type generator was undergoing decommissioning. This reduced the power station's capacity from 310 MW to 279 MW, however it still remains the main facility generating base load for the regional grid.{{cite web|url=https://territorygeneration.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TGen-Annual-Report-2019-20-FINAL-TGD2020-57906.pdf|title=2019-20 Annual Report|publisher=Territory Generation|accessdate=9 January 2022}}
Renewable energy
In 2021 the Government of the Northern Territory awarded a tender for the construction of a 35 MVA battery storage power station to be built at Channel Island. At a cost of $45 million, the Darwin-Katherine Battery Energy Storage System will replace the decommissioned gas-fired unit and support the expansion renewable energy across the region such as by supporting the connection of rooftop solar panels to the grid.{{cite web|url=https://utilitymagazine.com.au/nt-awards-45-million-darwin-katherine-battery-tender/ |title=NT Awards $45 million Darwin-Katherine battery tender|author=Utility Magazine|date=20 December 2021}}
Also in 2021, Territory Generation ordered a trailer-mounted GE TM2500 aeroderivative gas turbine for Channel Island. Rated at 22 MW, this unit is capable of running on renewable hydrogen and is compatible with the Battery Energy Storage System currently being installed.{{cite web|url=https://esdnews.com.au/channel-island-power-station-gets-hydrogen-capable-mobile-aeroderivative-gas-turbine/ |title=Channel Island Power Station gets hydrogen-capable mobile aeroderivative gas turbine|work=Energy Source and Distribution|publisher=TMPC Creative Media|date=14 October 2021|accessdate=9 January 2022}} The remaining thermal units, C1 and 2, and C4 and 5 along with the waste heat turbine were expected to be decommissioned in 2026–27, with similar small hydrogen capable units the most likely replacement.{{cite web|url=https://utilicom.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1018882/2020-NT-Electricity-Outlook-Report.pdf |title=2020 NT Electricity Outlook Report|publisher=Utilities Commission of the Northern Territory|accessdate=9 January 2022}} In 2025, three of the generators were planned to be kept operational into the 2030s.{{cite web |title=NT retreats from renewables target, extends life of gas power plant |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-03/nt-channel-island-gas-renewable-energy-target-solar-farms/104983372 |website=ABC News |language=en-AU |date=2 March 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Energy in the Northern Territory|state=collapsed}}
Category:Natural gas-fired power stations in the Northern Territory
Category:Buildings and structures in Darwin, Northern Territory
Category:Economy of Darwin, Northern Territory
Category:Proposed renewable energy power stations in Australia