Loy Yang Power Station

{{Short description|Coal fired power station in Victoria, Australia}}

{{Infobox power station

| name = Loy Yang Power Station

| name_official =

| image = Loy Yang A and B power station.jpg

| image_caption = Loy Yang B (left), Loy Yang A (centre), coal bunkers from open cut mine (right)

| image_alt =

| coordinates = {{coord|38|15|16|S|146|34|37|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| country = Australia

| location = Traralgon, Victoria, Australia

| status = O

| construction_began =

| commissioned = 1985

| decommissioned =

| cost =

| owner = {{plainlist|

A: AGL Energy
B: Chow Tai Fook Enterprises 70%; Mitsui 30% }}

| operator =

| th_fuel_primary = Brown coal

| th_fuel_tertiary =

| ps_units_operational= {{plainlist|

A: 3 × {{convert|560|MW|abbr=on}} & 1 x {{convert|530|MW|abbr=on}}
B: 2 × {{convert|535|MW|abbr=on}} }}

| ps_units_manu_model = Brown Boveri & Cie
Kraftwerk Union
Hitachi

| ps_electrical_capacity = {{convert|3280|MW|abbr=on}}

| ps_electrical_cap_fac =

| website =

| extra =

}}

The Loy Yang Power Station is a brown coal-fired thermal power station located on the outskirts of the city of Traralgon, in south-eastern Victoria, Australia. It consists of two sections, known as Loy Yang A (4 units) and Loy Yang B (2 units). Both Loy Yang A and B are supplied by the Loy Yang brown coal mine. The Loy Yang power stations are located in the black coal rich Latrobe Valley, along with the Yallourn Power Station. In 2024, Peter Dutton said he intends, if elected, to build one of seven government-owned nuclear power plants on this site, to be operational by 2035–2037.{{cite news |title=Peter Dutton reveals seven sites for proposed nuclear power plants |first1=Tom |last1=Crowley |first2=Jane |last2=Norman |date=2024-06-19 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-19/dutton-reveals-seven-sites-for-proposed-nuclear-power-plants/103995310 |access-date=2024-12-25 }}

If Loy Yang A and Loy Yang B are counted together they are the largest power station in Australia, generating 3280 MW of power (however, if counted separately, the 2,880 MW Eraring Power Station is the largest). Loy Yang A & B are base load power stations, and together produce 50% of Victoria's electricity requirements. Loy Yang also serves as the mainland connection point for the Basslink electricity interconnector cable which runs under Bass Strait, connecting it to the George Town sub-station in northern Tasmania.

Technical Features

All six Loy Yang boilers are of the forced circulation tower type and are made by International Combustion Australia. Steam is supplied at a pressure of 16 MPa and a temperature of 540 °C.

= Loy Yang A =

File:Loy_Yang_open_cut_brown_coal_mine_and_dredgers.jpg

File:Loy Yang A power station.jpg

File:Loy Yang B power station.jpg

Loy Yang A has four generating units with a combined capacity of {{convert|2210|MW|abbr=on}}, which have been completed between 1984 and 1988.{{Cite web|url=https://www.agl.com.au/about-agl/how-we-source-energy/thermal-energy/agl-loy-yang|title=AGL Loy Yang {{!}} AGL|website=agl.com.au|access-date=2016-07-06}} Loy Yang A consists of three units with Kraftwerk Union alternators (units 1, 3 and 4) and one unit by Brown Boveri & Cie (unit 2) that was supposed to be the second unit at the gas-fired Newport Power Station. Later during the 2000s the turbine/generator couplings were upgraded on the 3 Kraftwerk Union units to allow an increase in MCR to 560 MW. Loy Yang A is the mainland connection point for the Basslink electricity interconnector cable.

= Loy Yang B =

Loy Yang B has two units with a capacity of {{convert|1070|MW|abbr=on}} which entered service in 1993 and 1996.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gdfsuezau.com/about-us/asset/Loy-Yang-B-Power-Station|title=Loy Yang B Power Station {{!}} ENGIE|website=gdfsuezau.com|access-date=2016-07-06}} The two units have Hitachi turbo generators.

Loy Yang B employs up to 152 full-time staff and another 40 contractors. It is Victoria's newest and most efficient brown coal-fired power station and can generate approximately 17% of Victoria's power needs.

Fuel supply

Four giant bucket-wheel excavators, called dredgers, operate 24 hours a day in the Loy Yang open cut mine, mostly feeding coal directly to the boilers via conveyor belt, 18 hours of reserve supply is held in a {{convert|70000|t|LT}} coal bunker. Each year approximately {{convert|30|e6t|e6LT}} of coal are extracted from the open pit. The open cut coal mine pit is about {{convert|200|m|ft}} deep, {{convert|3|km|mi}} and {{convert|2|km|mi}} wide at its widest. The current mining licence has been extended by the Victorian Government up to the year 2065.[https://www.agl.com.au/about-agl/how-we-source-energy/loy-yang-power-station AGL Loy Yang Power Station - Transition]

History

File:LaTrobe Valley CFPS.png]]

The squatter James Rintoul established a stock run in the 1840s at the place where Sheepwash Creek meets the Latrobe River, which he called "Loy Yang", an Aboriginal name meaning "Big Eel".{{cite web|title=The River of Little Fish|url=https://www.traralgonhistory.asn.au/rolf/chapter2.htm#:~:text=He%20called%20his%20run%20%22Loy,The%20River%20of%20Little%20Fish%22.

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308144854/https://www.traralgonhistory.asn.au/rolf/chapter2.htm |archive-date= 8 March 2014

|author=W. J. Cuthill|year=1970|website=Traralgon History Association}}

Loy Yang facility was originally constructed through the 1980s by International Combustion Australia, who was contracted by the government-owned State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV). It consists of two separate units, Loy Yang A and Loy Yang B. Constructed in stages, it was originally planned that the Loy Yang complex would consist of eight generating units, of {{convert|525|MW}} each upon completion. The privatization of the SECV resulted in only six generating units being completed, four in Loy Yang A and two in Loy Yang B. The chimneys were constructed by Thiess Contractors.{{cite web|url=https://australianminingreview.com.au/features/thiess-a-proud-history/ |title=Thiess: a proud history|publisher=Australian Mining Review|date=29 March 2019|accessdate=3 January 2019}}

In 1992, the Labor government sold a 51%{{cite web|title=Loy Yang B Power Station Pty Ltd (also known as LYBCO)|url=https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VA4111 |publisher=Public Record Office Victoria|date=1992–1997|accessdate=30 November 2022}} stake of Loy Yang B to Mission Energy. Later Edison Mission bought the complete plant, and later again sold it to the joint venture International Power Mitsui. The Loy Yang complex was privatised in 1995, as were most of the assets of the SECV.

In 1995, Loy Yang B was the world's first coal-fired power station to gain quality accreditation to ISO 9001 and the first Australian power station to gain environmental accreditation to ISO 14001.

In March 2010 it was announced that the operators of Loy Yang A (Loy Yang Power) signed a contract with Alcoa World Alumina & Chemicals Australia for the supply of electricity to power aluminium smelters at Portland and Point Henry until 2036.{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/environment/alcoa-deal-locks-in-jobs--and-emissions-20100301-pdl8.html |title=Alcoa deal locks in jobs - and emissions|date=2 March 2010|work=Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=18 January 2014}} The Point Henry Smelter ceased operation in 2014 and is now closed.

In June 2012 AGL Energy acquired Loy Yang A and the Loy Yang coal mine.[https://www.agl.com.au/about-agl/how-we-source-energy/thermal-energy/agl-loy-yang Loy Yang A supplies approximately 30% of Victoria’s power requirements.] In 2020, AGL announced plans to build a 200 MW / 800 MWh (4 hours) battery storage power station at Loy Yang A to increase flexibility.{{cite web |last1=Parkinson |first1=Giles |title=AGL to add 200MW big battery with four hours storage at Loy Yang coal plant |url=https://reneweconomy.com.au/agl-to-add-200mw-big-battery-with-four-hours-storage-at-loy-yang-coal-plant-93905/ |website=RenewEconomy |language=en-AU |date=22 November 2020}}

Until November 2017, Loy Yang B was jointly owned by Engie (formerly GDF Suez Australia), which held a 70% stake, and Mitsui & Co with 30%. In November 2017, Engie sold Loy Yang B to Chow Tai Fook Enterprises for a reported AU$1.2 billion,{{cite press release|url=https://www.alintaenergy.com.au/about-us/news/loy-yang-b-power-station-acquisition |title=Loy Yang B Power Station Acquisition|date=24 November 2017|access-date=9 November 2018|publisher=Alinta Energy|quote=Alinta Energy's owner, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE), has today entered into a conditional binding agreement to acquire the Loy Yang B power station.}}{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-23/coal-fired-loy-yang-b-sold-to-alinta-owners/9185354 |title=Coal-fired Loy Yang B power station sold to Alinta Energy's owners Chow Tai Fook Enterprises|date=23 November 2017|access-date=9 November 2018|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|first=Melinda|last=Ogden}} despite some reported that it was acquired by Chow Tai Fook Enterprises' subsidiary Alinta Energy instead.{{cite news|url= http://www.theage.com.au/business/energy/alinta-buys-loy-yang-b-brown-coal-power-station-in-11-billion-deal-20171123-gzrf77.html |title=La Trobe Valley's Loy Yang B coal-fired power station sold to Chinese-owned company|date=23 November 2017|access-date=9 November 2018|newspaper=The Age|first=Cole|last=Latimer}}

In February 2024 all four units at Loy Yang A shut down after two transmission lines collapsed,{{cite news |last1=Whittaker |first1=Jarrod |last2=Schapova |first2=Natasha |date=13 February 2024 |title=Half a million Victorian customers without power as Loy Yang A shuts down and storms damage infrastructure |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-13/power-outage-victoria-loy-yang-a-down-storms-damage-transmission/103461222 |work=ABC News |access-date=13 February 2024}}{{cite web |title=Wind and solar records tumbled as storms ripped through Victoria’s grid |url=https://reneweconomy.com.au/wind-and-solar-records-tumbled-as-storms-ripped-through-victorias-grid/ |website=RenewEconomy |language=en-AU |date=15 February 2024}} while Loy Yang B continued operation. Wholesale power prices soared to the market cap at $16.6/kWh.{{cite web |title=AGL and AEMO search for answers on Loy Yang outage, but “woke” energy not to blame |url=https://reneweconomy.com.au/agl-and-aemo-search-for-answers-on-loy-yang-outage-but-woke-energy-not-to-blame/ |website=RenewEconomy |language=en-AU |date=14 February 2024}}

Greenhouse gas emissions

Carbon Monitoring for Action estimates this power station emits {{convert|14.4|e6t|e6LT}} of greenhouse gases each year as a result of burning coal.{{cite web| url=http://carma.org/plant/detail/26026| title=Loy Yang A| publisher=Carbon Monitoring for Action| accessdate=18 January 2014}} On 3 September 2007 the Loy Yang complex was the target of climate change activists. The activists locked themselves to conveyor belts and reduced power production for several hours before being cut free. Four people were arrested.{{cite news|url=http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/apec-climate-change-protest-shuts-down-victorian-coal-power-station|work=Indymedia|date=3 September 2007|accessdate=5 September 2007|title=APEC Climate Action Shuts Down Victorian Coal Power Station A|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070921022320/http://www.sydney.indymedia.org.au/story/apec-climate-change-protest-shuts-down-victorian-coal-power-station|archive-date=21 September 2007|url-status=dead}}

On 23 September 2021 Environment Victoria took legal action against AGL Energy, which owns Loy Yang A (and also EnergyAustralia, owner of Yallourn power station, and Alinta at Loy Yang B) for failure to manage climate pollution, in a case that was the first to test the Victorian government’s climate change laws.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-23|title=AGL plots new big battery, gets sued over coal pollution|url=https://www.afr.com/policy/energy-and-climate/agl-plots-new-big-battery-gets-sued-over-coal-pollution-20210923-p58u1x|access-date=2021-10-18|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}}

Engineering heritage award

The power station received an Engineering Heritage Marker from Engineers Australia as part of its Engineering Heritage Recognition Program.{{cite web

| url = https://portal.engineersaustralia.org.au/heritage/loy-yang-power-station-1984

| title = Loy Yang Power Station - 1984-

| publisher = Engineers Australia

| access-date = 2020-05-03

}}

Future

In September 2022, AGL announced that Loy Yang A would close in 2035.{{cite news |last1=Hannam |first1=Peter |last2=Kolovos |first2=Benita |title=AGL will close Victoria's coal-fired power station Loy Yang A a decade earl |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/sep/29/agl-to-unveil-plan-to-close-coal-fired-power-station-loy-yang-a-a-decade-early |access-date=5 November 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=29 September 2022}}

Alinta Energy, the owner of Loy Yang B, has announced an intention to operate it until 2047. However, the state government has announced a target that 95% of Victoria's electricity will be generated by renewable energy by 2035. It would be impossible to meet this target if Loy Yang B continued to operate in its present form. The Ex-Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, has stated that it is unlikely to operate to the previously announced closure date.{{cite web |last1=Eddie |first1=Rachel |last2=Sakkal |first2=Paul |last3=Gordon |first3=Josh |last4=O'Malley |first4=Nick |title=Switch to state control starts clock ticking on coal-fired power plants |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/switch-to-state-control-starts-clock-ticking-on-coal-fired-power-plants-20221020-p5brl3.html |website=The Age |access-date=5 November 2022 |date=20 October 2022}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20050306033948/http://www.loyyangpower.com.au/ Loy Yang Power]
[http://www.ipplc.com International Power]
[http://www.whit.com.au/aemo-registered-participants/ Australian Energy Market Operator Participant Registration List]

Category:Coal-fired power stations in Victoria (state)

Category:1985 establishments in Australia

Category:Traralgon

Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1985

Category:Recipients of Engineers Australia engineering heritage markers