These fossil fuel power stations burn coal to power steam turbines that generate some or all of the electricity they produce. Australia's fleet of coal-fired power stations is aging and many are due for decommissioning, and are being replaced by a combination of mostly renewable energy. In early 2017, 75% of the coal-fired power stations in the country were operating beyond their original design life.

The declining cost of renewable energy sources, such as solar power, wind power and battery storage, means it is unlikely a new coal-fired power station will ever be built in Australia, which would make the 2009-commissioned Bluewaters Power Station the last coal-fired power station to be constructed in Australia. The Liddell Power Station is the latest coal-fired power station to be decommissioned, which took place on 28 April 2023.

New South Wales Power station Commission year Scheduled closure year Max. capacity (MW) CO2 emissions (t CO2-e/year) Emission intensity (t CO2-e/MWh) Turbines Coal type Conveyance Mine type Cooling water Owner Bayswater 1982 2033 2,640 13,725,965 0.88 4 bituminous conveyors, rail open cut fresh AGL Eraring 1982 2029 2,880 14,914,916 0.87 4 bituminous rail, truck underground salt Origin Mt Piper 1993 2040 1,400 6,841,302 0.87 2 bituminous road, conveyor underground fresh EnergyAustralia Vales Point B 1978 2033 1,320 7,015,626 0.86 2 bituminous conveyors underground salt Delta

Total (MW): 8,240

Decommissioned stations Power station Commission year(s) Closure year Max. capacity (MW) Emission intensity (t CO2-e/MWh) Turbines Coal type Conveyance Mine type Cooling waterFormer owner Liddell 1971-1973 2023 2,000 0.94 4 bituminous conveyors, rail open cut fresh Munmorah196920121,4001.164bituminous Redbank200120141511.41bituminous Wallerawang A 1957-195919861204bituminousfresh Wallerawang B 196119901202bituminousfresh Wallerawang C1976-1980201410001.052bituminousfresh White Bay A1917-1925195558.55bituminous White Bay B1926-19281975864bituminous White Bay C1951-195819831002bituminous Pyrmont A1904-19241950s757bituminous Pyrmont B1952-195519832004bituminous Ultimo1899-1951196379.511bituminous Bunnerong A1926-193719751757bituminous Bunnerong B1939-194719752004bituminous Tallawarra A1954-195519891204bituminous Tallawarra B196019892002bituminous Balmain A1909-19351976419bituminous Balmain B1940-1956197684.44bituminous

Queensland

Power station Commissionyear Scheduled closureyear Max. capacity(MW) CO2 emissions(t CO2-e/year) Emission intensity(t CO2-e/MWh) Turbines Coal type Conveyance Mine type Cooling water OwnerRefsCallide B 1989 2028 700 5,103,540 0.92 2 bituminous conveyor open cut fresh CS Energy, Intergen Callide C 2001 Not Announced 810 5,265,665 0.9 2 bituminous conveyor open cut fresh CS Energy, Intergen Gladstone 1976 2035, potential early closure in 2029 1,680 8,547,021 0.95 6 bituminous rail open cut seawater Rio Tinto, NRG Kogan Creek 2007 2042 750 4,360,686 0.83 1 bituminous conveyor open cut dry cooled CS Energy Millmerran 2002 2051 852 5,794,351 0.82 2 bituminous conveyor open cut dry cooled Intergen Stanwell 1993 2046 1,445 7,637,735 0.87 4 bituminous rail open cut fresh Stanwell Tarong 1984 2037 1,40010,473,9500.86 4 bituminous conveyor open cut fresh Stanwell Tarong North 2002 2037 443 1 bituminous conveyor open cut fresh Stanwell

Total (MW): 8,080

Decommissioned stations

Victoria Power station Commission year Scheduled closure year Max. capacity (MW) CO2 emissions (t CO2-e/year) Emission intensity (t CO2-e/MWh) Turbines Coal type Conveyance Mine type Cooling water Owner Loy Yang A 1984 2035 2200 20,107,115 1.17 4 lignite conveyors open cut fresh cooling tower AGL Loy Yang B 1993 2047 1050 10,132,776 1.14 2 lignite conveyors open cut fresh cooling tower Chow Tai Fook, Alinta Energy Yallourn Power Station 1975 2028 1480 13,856,313 1.34 4 lignite conveyors open cut fresh cooling tower EnergyAustralia

Total (MW): 4,730

Decommissioned stations

Western Australia Power station Commission year Scheduled closure year Max. capacity (MW) CO2 emissions (t CO2-e/year) Emission intensity (t CO2-e/MWh) Turbines Coal type Conveyance Mine type Cooling water Owner Collie 1999 2027 340 1,848,693 0.91 1 bituminous conveyor open cut fresh Synergy Muja 1981 (units 1–6 closed) 2029 (Units 7 & 8) 654 3,982,663 0.9 4 bituminous conveyor open cut fresh Synergy Bluewaters 2009 – 416 2,966,541 0.88 2 bituminous conveyor open cut fresh Sumitomo Group, Kansai Electric

Total (MW): 1,410

Kwinana A (240 MW) was shut down in 2010, and Kwinana C (400 MW) was shut down in 2015. Decommissioned stations

Other states/territories

Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory does not use coal or oil to generate electricity. The Kingston Powerhouse was the last coal-fired power station in the territory, but was decommissioned in 1957.

Decommissioned stations

Northern Territory The Northern Territory relies predominantly on natural gas, as well as various renewable energy sources. Likewise, it has no functioning coal-fired power stations.

Decommissioned stations

South Australia South Australia previously had a number of coal power stations. The last to be closed were the Northern and Playford B power stations.

Decommissioned stations

Tasmania Tasmania has no functioning coal-fired power stations, instead using primarily hydroelectricity, with natural gas used as a backup.

Decommissioned stations

See also

100% renewable energy Energy policy of Australia List of natural gas fired power stations in Australia

Notes

Sources

References