Return to service of damaged coal unit delayed yet again

The return to service of the damaged C4 unit at Queensland’s Callide C coal fired power station has been delayed yet again – for the ninth time by some counts – to provide more time for testing and “quality insurance”.

The 420 megawatt (MW) C4 unit went out of service in spectacular fashion in May, 2021 when an explosion ripped through the power plant, cutting power to hundreds of thousands of customers and very nearly sending the state into a system wide blackout.

A structural failure at the cooling towers in late October the next year meant that the C3 unit also had to be take offline. That unit returned to service in April, but the return of C4 – after a major rebuild – has been repeatedly delayed.

The most recent delay had pushed the return to service back to July 22 this year, but late on Friday joint owners CS Energy announced that the date had been pushed back to August 31.

“This is the first time in Queensland a major generating unit and its cooling tower have been completely rebuilt and integrated with existing infrastructure,” CEO Darren Busine said.

“It is also nearly 20 years since a new coal-fired generator and cooling tower was put into service in Queensland, which was at Kogan Creek Power Station.

“For many of our people at Callide, this is the first time they have been involved in the commissioning of a new coal-fired generator and they have my full support in taking all the necessary precautions to ensure that C4 is returned to service in a safe and methodical manner.”

Many in the energy business urged the state government not to invest in the re-build, but the government went ahead, although it also declared a “battery blitz” that has seen numerous battery projects begin construction, many at the site of existing and former coal fired generators, including Stanwell, Tarong, Kogan Creek, Milmerran and Swanbank.

Edify Energy has proposed a 200 MW solar project accompanied by a 200 MW/ 800 MWh battery next to the site of the Callide facility, so it can “maximise its access” to the grid.

The 700 MW Callide B coal fired generator, which is wholly owned by CS Energy, is due for closure in 2028. CS Energy operates Callide C in a 50/50 joint venture with IG Power. An investigation into the explosion identified many safety failure at the plant and by the company.