BY DI SNEDDON
While there is plenty of talk around renewables and potential nuclear energy, one project that is well into the planning is the recommissioning of Redbank Power Station.
Located between Singleton and Jerrys Plains at Long Point Road, Warkworth, Redbank Power Station began generating power in 2001 using coal tailings from the nearby Wambo Mine. When that supply ceased, the plant went into care and maintenance mode and has been so since October, 2014.
In 2018 Redbank Power Station was purchased by Verdant Earth Technologies Limited and the process began to substitute the coal tailings and generate power through sustainably sourced biomass fuel.
Redbank Power Station General Manager Costa Tsiolkas says this will provide carbon neutral, affordable and reliable baseload power and will immediately address some of the current electricity supply concerns.
Originally the company believed it would be a simple development change for Singleton Council however the project was referred onto the NSW State Government for determination which required an entirely new development application.
A 4,500 page environmental impact assessment was placed on exhibition in March 2024 and submissions closed in April. Comments and submissions were received from various government departments, agencies and the public. Redbank have provided a 120 page response to the department of planning addressing all the issues raised, plus an additional 14 specialists reports that were requested.
Verdant is currently waiting for confirmation that all concerns have been adequately addressed and are looking forward to the department’s next steps.
Mr Tsiolkas said he was surprised by the number of submissions that were concerned the project would be using native forest as fuel.
“In the EIS we clearly stated it would not be native forest,” Mr Tsiolkas said.
“We are having discussions with farmers in the Cobar region that are severely impacted by invasive shrubs and we wish to use that as fuel. These invasive shrubs that grow at a phenomenal rate are restricting the use of the land as agricultural land.
“Approvals have been granted by the relevant government departments for clearing these invasive species and return the land to more beneficial use and sustainable farming.
“The current practice is to stockpile and burn the waste at the farm which is inefficient and a waste of good, clean energy that could be generated by a suitably designed and efficient combustion unit with little or no impact so there are plenty of conversations happening with landowners who are keenly interested,” Mr Tsiolkas said.
In addition to the fuel from invasive species, Verdant are exploring the opportunity to grow their own energy crops and are following the developments and testing that has been undertaken by the CSIRO and DPI with various tree varieties and are looking for land that can be utilised for this purpose.
“This will provide additional economic and environmental benefits to our region,” he said.
When approved, the power station will have the capacity to produce 150 megawatts of baseload power equivalent to 600MW of wind and solar generation and is capable of providing 200,000 homes with continual 24/7 renewable power.
“The project requires no additional transmission lines, has a small footprint, creates permanent local jobs, provides economic benefits and growth to the local town and region and additional income streams for the regional farmers,” Mr Tsiolkas said.
Of the 61 submissions from the Hunter, only 11 were from Singleton with eight of those in support of the project.
The project is likely to go to a public hearing conducted by the Independent Planning Commission later this year.
“By the end of the year we should have some decision given to us but in the meantime, I welcome people who are interested or have concerns to come and have a discussion about our plans and the proposal, maybe they may learn something from me and I may learn something from them.
“My door is always open and I welcome any discussions and visits to the site.
“Baseload power is the key issue, while there are solar and wind projects surfacing throughout the country, it is the baseload power now provided by coal that needs to be replaced to ensure synchronous baseload power supply to homes and businesses and this project will do that.”
