Enough power for 200,000 homes: work to start on $800m Tomago battery
The battery, which is expected to be operational by late 2027, will be one of the biggest batteries in NSW with the capacity to power about 200,000 homes during peak demand periods.
Construction will generate 200 jobs with six ongoing operational jobs once complete.
The company made a final investment decision on the $800 project, located at the corner of Old Punt Road and the Pacific Highway, on Thursday.
AGL chief executive Damien Nicks said the investment decision marked another milestone in AGL's delivery of its strategy and the transition and decarbonisation of its energy portfolio.
"Once operational, the Tomago battery will expand on AGL's existing suite of grid-scale battery assets and contracted capacity from third parties and further enhance our flexible asset portfolio," he said.
Importantly, both the 250 megawatt Torrens Island and 50 megawatt Broken Hill batteries have delivered strong performance since they commenced operations, and the 500 megawatt Liddell battery remains on track to commence operations
AGL is in negotiations to supply Tomago Aluminium, the state's largest power consumer, with clean energy following the expiration of its current contract in 2028.
The smelter, which uses about 10 per cent of the state's electricity supply, has committed to switching to renewable energy.
It has called for expressions of interest to develop, invest in or procure long-term traceable renewable energy and dispatchable firm power generation projects or contracts to supply its production assets and underpin its decarbonisation strategy."
The 500-megawatt, four-hour, grid-scale Tomago adds to NSW's growing network of 57 large-scale batteries that have already been approved to support the state's continued transition away from coal-fired power generation.
They include AGL's 500 megawatt Liddell battery, the 850-megawatt Waratah battery at Munmorah and Origin Energy's 700-megawatt Eraring battery.
The batteries are playing an increasingly important role by providing firming capacity to support renewable generation, while improving the strength and reliability of the network.
The Minns government has approved 30 renewable projects, including 14 large-scale batteries, to date.
AGL, will provide about $2.2 million to Port Stephens Council for community improvement projects through its voluntary planning agreement.
AGL Energy will begin construction on a 500 megawatt, grid-scale battery at Tomago later this year.
The battery, which is expected to be operational by late 2027, will be one of the biggest batteries in NSW with the capacity to power about 200,000 homes during peak demand periods.
Construction will generate 200 jobs with six ongoing operational jobs once complete.
The company made a final investment decision on the $800 project, located at the corner of Old Punt Road and the Pacific Highway, on Thursday.
AGL chief executive Damien Nicks said the investment decision marked another milestone in AGL's delivery of its strategy and the transition and decarbonisation of its energy portfolio.
"Once operational, the Tomago battery will expand on AGL's existing suite of grid-scale battery assets and contracted capacity from third parties and further enhance our flexible asset portfolio," he said.
Importantly, both the 250 megawatt Torrens Island and 50 megawatt Broken Hill batteries have delivered strong performance since they commenced operations, and the 500 megawatt Liddell battery remains on track to commence operations
AGL is in negotiations to supply Tomago Aluminium, the state's largest power consumer, with clean energy following the expiration of its current contract in 2028.
The smelter, which uses about 10 per cent of the state's electricity supply, has committed to switching to renewable energy.
It has called for expressions of interest to develop, invest in or procure long-term traceable renewable energy and dispatchable firm power generation projects or contracts to supply its production assets and underpin its decarbonisation strategy."
The 500-megawatt, four-hour, grid-scale Tomago adds to NSW's growing network of 57 large-scale batteries that have already been approved to support the state's continued transition away from coal-fired power generation.
They include AGL's 500 megawatt Liddell battery, the 850-megawatt Waratah battery at Munmorah and Origin Energy's 700-megawatt Eraring battery.
The batteries are playing an increasingly important role by providing firming capacity to support renewable generation, while improving the strength and reliability of the network.
The Minns government has approved 30 renewable projects, including 14 large-scale batteries, to date.
AGL, will provide about $2.2 million to Port Stephens Council for community improvement projects through its voluntary planning agreement.
AGL Energy will begin construction on a 500 megawatt, grid-scale battery at Tomago later this year.
The battery, which is expected to be operational by late 2027, will be one of the biggest batteries in NSW with the capacity to power about 200,000 homes during peak demand periods.
Construction will generate 200 jobs with six ongoing operational jobs once complete.
The company made a final investment decision on the $800 project, located at the corner of Old Punt Road and the Pacific Highway, on Thursday.
AGL chief executive Damien Nicks said the investment decision marked another milestone in AGL's delivery of its strategy and the transition and decarbonisation of its energy portfolio.
"Once operational, the Tomago battery will expand on AGL's existing suite of grid-scale battery assets and contracted capacity from third parties and further enhance our flexible asset portfolio," he said.
Importantly, both the 250 megawatt Torrens Island and 50 megawatt Broken Hill batteries have delivered strong performance since they commenced operations, and the 500 megawatt Liddell battery remains on track to commence operations
AGL is in negotiations to supply Tomago Aluminium, the state's largest power consumer, with clean energy following the expiration of its current contract in 2028.
The smelter, which uses about 10 per cent of the state's electricity supply, has committed to switching to renewable energy.
It has called for expressions of interest to develop, invest in or procure long-term traceable renewable energy and dispatchable firm power generation projects or contracts to supply its production assets and underpin its decarbonisation strategy."
The 500-megawatt, four-hour, grid-scale Tomago adds to NSW's growing network of 57 large-scale batteries that have already been approved to support the state's continued transition away from coal-fired power generation.
They include AGL's 500 megawatt Liddell battery, the 850-megawatt Waratah battery at Munmorah and Origin Energy's 700-megawatt Eraring battery.
The batteries are playing an increasingly important role by providing firming capacity to support renewable generation, while improving the strength and reliability of the network.
The Minns government has approved 30 renewable projects, including 14 large-scale batteries, to date.
AGL, will provide about $2.2 million to Port Stephens Council for community improvement projects through its voluntary planning agreement.
AGL Energy will begin construction on a 500 megawatt, grid-scale battery at Tomago later this year.
The battery, which is expected to be operational by late 2027, will be one of the biggest batteries in NSW with the capacity to power about 200,000 homes during peak demand periods.
Construction will generate 200 jobs with six ongoing operational jobs once complete.
The company made a final investment decision on the $800 project, located at the corner of Old Punt Road and the Pacific Highway, on Thursday.
AGL chief executive Damien Nicks said the investment decision marked another milestone in AGL's delivery of its strategy and the transition and decarbonisation of its energy portfolio.
"Once operational, the Tomago battery will expand on AGL's existing suite of grid-scale battery assets and contracted capacity from third parties and further enhance our flexible asset portfolio," he said.
Importantly, both the 250 megawatt Torrens Island and 50 megawatt Broken Hill batteries have delivered strong performance since they commenced operations, and the 500 megawatt Liddell battery remains on track to commence operations
AGL is in negotiations to supply Tomago Aluminium, the state's largest power consumer, with clean energy following the expiration of its current contract in 2028.
The smelter, which uses about 10 per cent of the state's electricity supply, has committed to switching to renewable energy.
It has called for expressions of interest to develop, invest in or procure long-term traceable renewable energy and dispatchable firm power generation projects or contracts to supply its production assets and underpin its decarbonisation strategy."
The 500-megawatt, four-hour, grid-scale Tomago adds to NSW's growing network of 57 large-scale batteries that have already been approved to support the state's continued transition away from coal-fired power generation.
They include AGL's 500 megawatt Liddell battery, the 850-megawatt Waratah battery at Munmorah and Origin Energy's 700-megawatt Eraring battery.
The batteries are playing an increasingly important role by providing firming capacity to support renewable generation, while improving the strength and reliability of the network.
The Minns government has approved 30 renewable projects, including 14 large-scale batteries, to date.
AGL, will provide about $2.2 million to Port Stephens Council for community improvement projects through its voluntary planning agreement.
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The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Enough power for 200,000 homes: work to start on $800m Tomago battery
AGL Energy will begin construction on a 500 megawatt, grid-scale battery at Tomago later this year. The battery, which is expected to be operational by late 2027, will be one of the biggest batteries in NSW with the capacity to power about 200,000 homes during peak demand periods. Construction will generate 200 jobs with six ongoing operational jobs once complete. The company made a final investment decision on the $800 project, located at the corner of Old Punt Road and the Pacific Highway, on Thursday. AGL chief executive Damien Nicks said the investment decision marked another milestone in AGL's delivery of its strategy and the transition and decarbonisation of its energy portfolio. "Once operational, the Tomago battery will expand on AGL's existing suite of grid-scale battery assets and contracted capacity from third parties and further enhance our flexible asset portfolio," he said. Importantly, both the 250 megawatt Torrens Island and 50 megawatt Broken Hill batteries have delivered strong performance since they commenced operations, and the 500 megawatt Liddell battery remains on track to commence operations AGL is in negotiations to supply Tomago Aluminium, the state's largest power consumer, with clean energy following the expiration of its current contract in 2028. The smelter, which uses about 10 per cent of the state's electricity supply, has committed to switching to renewable energy. It has called for expressions of interest to develop, invest in or procure long-term traceable renewable energy and dispatchable firm power generation projects or contracts to supply its production assets and underpin its decarbonisation strategy." The 500-megawatt, four-hour, grid-scale Tomago adds to NSW's growing network of 57 large-scale batteries that have already been approved to support the state's continued transition away from coal-fired power generation. They include AGL's 500 megawatt Liddell battery, the 850-megawatt Waratah battery at Munmorah and Origin Energy's 700-megawatt Eraring battery. The batteries are playing an increasingly important role by providing firming capacity to support renewable generation, while improving the strength and reliability of the network. The Minns government has approved 30 renewable projects, including 14 large-scale batteries, to date. AGL, will provide about $2.2 million to Port Stephens Council for community improvement projects through its voluntary planning agreement. AGL Energy will begin construction on a 500 megawatt, grid-scale battery at Tomago later this year. The battery, which is expected to be operational by late 2027, will be one of the biggest batteries in NSW with the capacity to power about 200,000 homes during peak demand periods. Construction will generate 200 jobs with six ongoing operational jobs once complete. The company made a final investment decision on the $800 project, located at the corner of Old Punt Road and the Pacific Highway, on Thursday. AGL chief executive Damien Nicks said the investment decision marked another milestone in AGL's delivery of its strategy and the transition and decarbonisation of its energy portfolio. "Once operational, the Tomago battery will expand on AGL's existing suite of grid-scale battery assets and contracted capacity from third parties and further enhance our flexible asset portfolio," he said. Importantly, both the 250 megawatt Torrens Island and 50 megawatt Broken Hill batteries have delivered strong performance since they commenced operations, and the 500 megawatt Liddell battery remains on track to commence operations AGL is in negotiations to supply Tomago Aluminium, the state's largest power consumer, with clean energy following the expiration of its current contract in 2028. The smelter, which uses about 10 per cent of the state's electricity supply, has committed to switching to renewable energy. It has called for expressions of interest to develop, invest in or procure long-term traceable renewable energy and dispatchable firm power generation projects or contracts to supply its production assets and underpin its decarbonisation strategy." The 500-megawatt, four-hour, grid-scale Tomago adds to NSW's growing network of 57 large-scale batteries that have already been approved to support the state's continued transition away from coal-fired power generation. They include AGL's 500 megawatt Liddell battery, the 850-megawatt Waratah battery at Munmorah and Origin Energy's 700-megawatt Eraring battery. The batteries are playing an increasingly important role by providing firming capacity to support renewable generation, while improving the strength and reliability of the network. The Minns government has approved 30 renewable projects, including 14 large-scale batteries, to date. AGL, will provide about $2.2 million to Port Stephens Council for community improvement projects through its voluntary planning agreement. AGL Energy will begin construction on a 500 megawatt, grid-scale battery at Tomago later this year. The battery, which is expected to be operational by late 2027, will be one of the biggest batteries in NSW with the capacity to power about 200,000 homes during peak demand periods. Construction will generate 200 jobs with six ongoing operational jobs once complete. The company made a final investment decision on the $800 project, located at the corner of Old Punt Road and the Pacific Highway, on Thursday. AGL chief executive Damien Nicks said the investment decision marked another milestone in AGL's delivery of its strategy and the transition and decarbonisation of its energy portfolio. "Once operational, the Tomago battery will expand on AGL's existing suite of grid-scale battery assets and contracted capacity from third parties and further enhance our flexible asset portfolio," he said. Importantly, both the 250 megawatt Torrens Island and 50 megawatt Broken Hill batteries have delivered strong performance since they commenced operations, and the 500 megawatt Liddell battery remains on track to commence operations AGL is in negotiations to supply Tomago Aluminium, the state's largest power consumer, with clean energy following the expiration of its current contract in 2028. The smelter, which uses about 10 per cent of the state's electricity supply, has committed to switching to renewable energy. It has called for expressions of interest to develop, invest in or procure long-term traceable renewable energy and dispatchable firm power generation projects or contracts to supply its production assets and underpin its decarbonisation strategy." The 500-megawatt, four-hour, grid-scale Tomago adds to NSW's growing network of 57 large-scale batteries that have already been approved to support the state's continued transition away from coal-fired power generation. They include AGL's 500 megawatt Liddell battery, the 850-megawatt Waratah battery at Munmorah and Origin Energy's 700-megawatt Eraring battery. The batteries are playing an increasingly important role by providing firming capacity to support renewable generation, while improving the strength and reliability of the network. The Minns government has approved 30 renewable projects, including 14 large-scale batteries, to date. AGL, will provide about $2.2 million to Port Stephens Council for community improvement projects through its voluntary planning agreement. AGL Energy will begin construction on a 500 megawatt, grid-scale battery at Tomago later this year. The battery, which is expected to be operational by late 2027, will be one of the biggest batteries in NSW with the capacity to power about 200,000 homes during peak demand periods. Construction will generate 200 jobs with six ongoing operational jobs once complete. The company made a final investment decision on the $800 project, located at the corner of Old Punt Road and the Pacific Highway, on Thursday. AGL chief executive Damien Nicks said the investment decision marked another milestone in AGL's delivery of its strategy and the transition and decarbonisation of its energy portfolio. "Once operational, the Tomago battery will expand on AGL's existing suite of grid-scale battery assets and contracted capacity from third parties and further enhance our flexible asset portfolio," he said. Importantly, both the 250 megawatt Torrens Island and 50 megawatt Broken Hill batteries have delivered strong performance since they commenced operations, and the 500 megawatt Liddell battery remains on track to commence operations AGL is in negotiations to supply Tomago Aluminium, the state's largest power consumer, with clean energy following the expiration of its current contract in 2028. The smelter, which uses about 10 per cent of the state's electricity supply, has committed to switching to renewable energy. It has called for expressions of interest to develop, invest in or procure long-term traceable renewable energy and dispatchable firm power generation projects or contracts to supply its production assets and underpin its decarbonisation strategy." The 500-megawatt, four-hour, grid-scale Tomago adds to NSW's growing network of 57 large-scale batteries that have already been approved to support the state's continued transition away from coal-fired power generation. They include AGL's 500 megawatt Liddell battery, the 850-megawatt Waratah battery at Munmorah and Origin Energy's 700-megawatt Eraring battery. The batteries are playing an increasingly important role by providing firming capacity to support renewable generation, while improving the strength and reliability of the network. The Minns government has approved 30 renewable projects, including 14 large-scale batteries, to date. AGL, will provide about $2.2 million to Port Stephens Council for community improvement projects through its voluntary planning agreement.
ABC News
25-07-2025
- ABC News
Groups call for Victorian coal mine operators to pay for rehabilitation water
Victoria's power legacy is carved deep into the landscape in the Latrobe Valley. The heart of Victoria's coal-fired power industry, the region is home to three large coal mines that are collectively more than four times the size of Sydney Harbour. Those mines are in the process of closing as Victoria phases out coal power. The first, Hazelwood, closed in 2017, with the Yallourn mine to follow in 2028, and the last, Loy Yang, set to close in 2035. As part of their rehabilitation strategies, their owners plan to fill the mines with water and turn them into lakes. In doing so, the companies are relying on international cases of rehabilitation, such as the Ruhr Valley in Germany, and Lake Kepwari in Western Australia as examples of best practice. Power companies are required to present their rehabilitation strategies to the Victorian government for approval to ensure that they are safe and stable for the long term. But proposals to draw the water from the nearby Latrobe River system, and the vast quantities of water required, have environmentalists concerned. Environment Victoria senior organiser Hayley Sestokas said the river was already stressed and "in a state of terminal decline". "They already receive less than half of the flows they need to flush themselves out," Ms Sestokas said. "That helps prevent deadly algal blooms and increases in salinity, and these things are going to get worse as climate change heats the water as well." A 2019 Victorian government water study found that the amount of available water in the Latrobe River system was in decline and predicted to fall further due to climate change. It found long-term available water declined by a quarter between 1997 and 2017, from about 800 gigalitres (GL) a year to about 600GL. The report predicted that the amount would fall to about 467GL by 2050 and 334GL by 2080. Power generators have access to water to run their power stations, but those entitlements do not allow it to be used for mine rehabilitation. To fill the three mines, a total of 2,354GL of water is needed — more than four times the volume of Sydney Harbour at 500GL. Yallourn will need 630GL, Hazelwood 637GL, and Loy Yang 1,087GL. To access the water, operators for Yallourn and Loy Yang need to apply to the Victorian water minister for a bulk water entitlement. Engie, the company behind Hazelwood, has a separate private contract with Gippsland Water. AGL, which operates the Loy Yang mine, has made an application for an entitlement of up to 35.8GL a year for mine rehabilitation. On its website, AGL said the amount being requested was "the total of the historical average annual volume of water used for power generation". The Victorian government is seeking community feedback on the application, which closes on August 15. Environmentalists want the state government to charge mine operators to access the water for mine rehabilitation, with the money raised invested in projects to improve river health. "The funds generated must be reinvested locally into programs to help protect and restore the Latrobe River system." Victorian Recreational Fishing Peak Body (VRFish) representative Rob Caune, who has spent half a century on the region's waterways, said he was concerned about the impact filling mines with water would have downstream. Mr Caune, who is also a member of the Gippsland Lakes Recreational Fishing Alliance, said he was not convinced the mine operators' attempts to mitigate environmental impacts by staggering the water input over wetter or drier years would work. "The total amount of water required to rehabilitate all three brown-coal mines is [nearly] 2,500 billion litres of fresh water that is to come out of our already stressed rivers that flow into the Gippsland Lakes," he said. AGL said it was seeking access to water to fill the Loy Yang mine as part of its plan to rehabilitate the mine in a manner that was "safe and sustainable". It did not directly answer questions about whether it should pay for the water access. "Technical studies currently indicate that repurposing the coal mine pit as a lake is the most viable and sustainable rehabilitation option," AGL Loy Yang general manager Christo van Niekerk said. "A lake could create new habitats for wildlife and increase opportunities for the mine pit to be useful for a range of purposes in the decades ahead." Mine operators for Hazelwood and Yallourn similarly told the ABC a lake was the safest and most sustainable option for mine pits, with the water to be gradually used over a 10 to 20-year period. A spokesperson for the Victorian government said: "No decision has been made on AGL's application for a new bulk water entitlement and any water accessed for mine rehabilitation would not diminish the entitlements of existing users, including farmers and the environment."
Sydney Morning Herald
21-07-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Commuters face at least another eight-month wait for new metro line opening
Sydney commuters will have to wait until at least April next year for the final stage of a $21.6 billion metro rail line to open, forcing tens of thousands to continue catching replacement buses or seeking alternative ways to travel. Converting the former T3 heavy rail line between Sydenham and Bankstown to one for driverless metro trains has been one of the most complex parts of the mega M1 project, leaving the Minns government reluctant to commit publicly to a date for its completion. Sydney Metro is halfway through low-speed testing – up to 25 km/h – of new single-deck trains on the line between Sydenham and Bankstown. High-speed testing is expected to start in September or October, subject to regulatory approval. Marrickville station is the most progressed of the 10 on the south-west section of the line, followed by Bankstown, Belmore and Punchbowl. Campsie and Canterbury stations require the most work to complete. Asked whether it would open in the first quarter of next year, Premier Chris Minns said he was not committing to it because of the government's bitter experience announcing opening dates and not meeting them. 'We've obviously got a target date and a completion date. But when you've got major infrastructure projects like the one that we're trying to pull off here, things can go wrong, and it's been, with some bitter experience that that's been the case,' he said. 'We want to make sure that when we announce that date, the public has got confidence that it will be completed. We believe it will be in 2026, but the date will be released as soon as possible.'
