The NSW Government has approved the $200 million upgrade of the Bayswater Power Station in NSW’s Hunter region, ensuring the station’s safe, reliable and efficient operation until its scheduled closure in 2035.
Bayswater’s 2,640 megawatts (MW) of power is a significant contributor to the state’s energy supply. Bayswater is Australia’s second largest coal-fired power station producing enough to energy to power two million homes.
When Bayswater power station was constructed in 1984, peak NSW electricity demand was more than 7,000 MW but this has now doubled to more than 14,000 MW.
The upgrade project has been declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure and involves replacing four turbines over a four-year period prior to the closure of nearby Liddell power station in 2022.
During community consultation, the Department of Planning and Environment received 54 submissions including five submissions from government agencies. None of the agencies objected to the project. Of the public submissions, the majority raised concerns about air quality.
The Department has assessed the merits of the project and found that the upgrade can be carried out with minor environmental impacts, subject to conditions.
