Media centre
Welcome to Aurora's media centre. This is where you'll find media releases we've issued on topics ranging from power interruptions to community activities and business developments.
Aurora's public relations team is available to answer media enquiries on (03) 6237 3341.
For archived stories check the news archive. All news releases are in date order from latest to oldest.
Monday, 26 October 2009Tamar Valley Power Station provides energy security for State
Construction of Tasmania’s newest power generation plant – the gas-powered Tamar Valley Power Station – has been commissioned on time with the total cost of the plant finishing under the original $451 million budget.
The new power station will play a critical role in underpinning Tasmania’s energy security and diversity, relieving drought-related pressures on the State’s hydro electric dams and optimising the economic benefits of the Tasmanian Gas Pipeline and Basslink electricity cable under Bass Strait.
Aurora Energy (Tamar Valley) Pty Ltd (trading as AETV Power), a wholly owned subsidiary of Aurora Energy, is the owner and operator of the plant, five kilometres south of George Town in the State’s largest heavy industrial precinct.
The plant, which contains Tasmania’s largest single power-generating unit, the Combined Cycle Gas Turbine – has already started generating into the National Energy Market, was officially opened by the Premier the Hon David Bartlett MHA today.
Aurora Energy CEO Dr Peter Davis said the completion of the power station was a key element in Aurora’s transition to a vertically integrated energy company.
“Completion of the Tamar Valley Power Station is not only great news for Aurora, but for the people of Tasmania,’’ Dr Davis said.
“This power station will play a critical role in providing our energy security in line with Aurora’s purpose to see the Tasmanian community prosper.
“The power station output represents about 14 per cent of Tasmania’s total generation capacity and its combined cycle unit is the single largest generating plant in the State.
“The fact that this plant was completed on time and to budget is a credit to the team of people involved.
The Tamar Valley Power Station is capable of producing 390MW of electricity, comprising three generating units – a 210MW Mitsubishi combined cycle unit, a 60MW Rolls Royce open cycle gas turbine and three Pratt and Whitney 40MW gas turbines.
The Mitsubishi unit is a highly efficient base load generator, while the open cycle Rolls Royce and Pratt and Whitney generators are capable of providing back-up to the Mitsubishi unit as well as offering peaking capacity into the market.
The power station features low emission, efficient gas turbine technology using gas sourced through the Tasmanian Gas Pipeline from Victoria, thereby reducing the State’s reliance on brown coal generated electricity from the mainland via the Basslink cable and helping to minimise the stress on Tasmanian hydro dam levels.
Construction was completed in August this year after about 24 months with up to 340 workers on site. About 30 people are now employed to operate the plant.
Dr Davis said the environmental benefits of the power station were particularly satisfying, with natural gas the lowest carbon emitter of all fossil fuels.
“This plant is much more efficient that the recently shut down Bell Bay Thermal Power Station and produces significantly lower emissions than a Victorian coal fired power station,’’ Dr Davis said.
“In terms of warm water discharges and noise emissions, the new power station will be a significant improvement on the Thermal Power Station and particulate emissions will be negligible.’’
The power station project was announced in October 2006 following agreement between Alinta Energy and Aurora Energy on a major energy purchase contract. Earthworks and construction by Alinta Energy commenced in August 2007. Soon after it was purchased from Alinta by Babcock and Brown Power. As a consequence of Babcock and Brown’s divestment strategy, arising in part from the world economic crisis, the State Government passed legislation in August 2008 to transfer ownership to Aurora Energy’s subsidiary AETV Power, to complete the project and commence operations. In January 2009, AETV Power signed an agreement with Babcock and Brown Power to purchase a range of gas supply and electricity contracts and commercial operations.
Released by Aurora Public Relations, 6237 3341
Back to news page
|
