Quarantine Power Station expansion
Stage 4
Overview
Origin currently owns and operates the Quarantine Power Station on Torrens Island, north of Adelaide in South Australia. This gas-fired power station has a capacity of 95MW and is located north of the much larger existing Torrens Island Power Station.In order to meet the growing demand for electricity in the region, Origin is expanding the capacity of the plant by adding another gas turbine generator to the four already in place at the existing Quarantine Power Station. The new generator will have a nominal capacity of 120MW, which is roughly the equivalent of the average power use of 130,000 homes. However, the new generator will not operate continuously as it (along with the other four existing generators at Quarantine Power Station) will function as a ‘peaking’ power station to meet brief periods of high electricity demand.
In South Australia the electricity demand can vary significantly for short periods of time. This is particularly true during the hot summer, when air conditioner use rises dramatically.
Project impact
The decision to expand the existing Quarantine Power Station was made because it means that additional electricity generation capacity can be added with minimal impact on the community and environment.The greenhouse gas emissions impact of the new generator is expected to be low. The gas-fired generator is expected to run for only a small proportion of the time. Gas fired power stations produce significantly lower levels of greenhouse gas than the average for existing generation.
Further expansion
Origin also has Development Approval to expand the power station further by adding a steam turbine to generate power using the heat produced by the exhaust from the existing generators. However, this project is yet to be approved by the Origin board. The addition of a steam system and steam turbine would only be appropriate if the power station was expected to run for significant periods of time. In the current electricity market, the requirement is for capacity which generates only during short term peak demand periods.Project construction
The generator will be installed on site by Origin’s construction contractor. It will be delivered through Port Adelaide and installed on a pre-prepared concrete foundation. The location of the new generator is shown in red on the aerial picture of the Quarantine Power Station (below).The project will also require additional work to upgrade the electrical connection at Quarantine and the addition of a connection to the SEA Gas pipeline which runs to the west of the site. All of this work will be undertaken on Torrens Island in close proximity to the existing power station.
Project status
The State Government granted approval for expansion of Quarantine Power Station early in 2007.In May this year, Origin executed an agreement with General Electric for the supply of the 9E gas turbine generator set. The 9E is a proven and reliable machine, with low emissions technology. Similar generators are in use throughout the world and Origin already has an interest in two similar generators installed at the Worsley Alumina Refinery, in Western Australia, and the Osborne Cogeneration Plant, across the Port River from the Quarantine Power Station, in Adelaide.
On 27 July, Origin signed a contract with Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd for the civil works, installation and balance of plant for the station's expansion. The extra peaking capacity will add to the security of electricity supplies in South Australia and will assist Origin in balancing its risk exposure in the South Australian market - one of the peakiest in the world.
Origin expects to start construction on site in early 2008 and is expected to commence commissioning by the end of 2008.
Potential contractors and employees should contact Brian McEvoy at Leighton Contractors on 03 9228 7767.