A massive $48.5 million overhaul of one of the generating units at CS Energy’s Callide Power Station is complete, ensuring the power station continues to operate in peak condition providing reliable electricity for Queensland and to feed back into the National Electricity Market.
The generator upgrade is one of the actions under the recently announced Summer Preparedness Plan to maximise generation availability.
Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the 405 megawatt Unit C4 at Callide Power Station was now generating electricity into the grid again after being offline for the two-month overhaul.
“Unit C4 is one of four generating units at Callide Power Station, which has a total capacity of 1,510 megawatts, which is enough to power two million homes,” Mr Pitt said.
“Approximately 320 extra workers were brought to the site during the 56-day overhaul which included a range of inspections, repairs and refurbishments to keep Unit C4 operating safety and reliably into the future.
“Areas of the plant that were overhauled included the C4 boiler, turbine rotor, air heaters, generator circuit breaker and submerged chain conveyor.”
Above: Overhaul workers at a whole-of-site morning pre-start meeting.
Energy Minister Mark Bailey said Lendlease undertook the major overhaul with workers including fitters, welders, scaffolders, riggers, electricians, boilermakers and crane drivers.
“More than 30 per cent of Lendlease’s workforce was hired from Central Queensland and 80 percent of the workforce was made up of Queenslanders,” Mr Bailey said.
“Other contractors working on the overhaul included Star Precision Electrical from Biloela and Toshiba, MHPS, Howdens, Varleys, Brand and Intertek.
“Accommodating, transporting and feeding the overhaul contractors provided a real boost to local service industries such as accommodation providers, caterers and transport companies.
“The overhaul contractors worked alongside Callide Power Station’s permanent workforce of 205 people.
“I would like to thank our employees and contractors for putting in a huge effort on this overhaul.”
Mr Pitt said Callide C is part of Queensland’s fleet of modern, supercritical coal-fired power stations, which provide baseload electricity to the National Electricity Market.
“Supercritical coal-fired power stations like Callide C will play a central role in Queensland's energy mix over the long-term, even as the economy transitions to a renewable energy future,” Mr Pitt said.
“Callide C was the first supercritical power station built in Australia and has one of the lowest greenhouse gas emissions intensities for any coal-fired power station in the country.
“The Callide C4 generating unit was last overhauled in 2015, so these works will keep it operating in peak condition into the future, providing reliable electricity for Queensland.”
Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said the overhaul was is an investment in Queensland’s security of supply.
“Callide C is one of Queensland’s modern supercritical power stations that provide baseload generation and this upgrade ensures the power station operates safely and reliably into the future,” he said.
“The overhaul is also good news for the Central Queensland economy, with hundreds of extra workers providing a real economic boost for local service industries, in Biloela in particular.”
Callide Power Station is comprised of two power plants, Callide B and C, each with two generating units, and has a permanent workforce of 205 people.
CS Energy owns 100 percent of Callide B and owns Callide C in a 50/50 joint venture arrangement with InterGen.