AGL Energy breaks ground on Barker Inlet Power Station in South Australia

AGL Energy has broken ground on its AUD295 million ($234 million) Barker Inlet Power Station, a gas fired power plant with a capacity of 210MW, located in South Australia.

The new gas fired power plant of the Australian energy company is coming up on Torrens Island near Adelaide alongside the historic 1.28GW Torrens Island Power Station.

To be developed based on reciprocating engine technology, the Barker Inlet Power Station is expected to enter into commercial operations in the second half of next year.

About 200 people are estimated to be used for the construction of the new gas fired power plant in Australia.

According to AGL Energy, two of the four Torrens A turbines of the Torrens Island Power Station will make way for the Barker Inlet Power Station. AGL Energy will gradually mothball the two Torrens A turbines from 1 July 2019.

The four Torrens B turbines of the Torrens Island Power Station will not be impacted by the new gas fired power plant and will continue their normal operations, stated the Australian energy company.

Illustration of Barker Inlet Power Station, a 210MW gas fired power plant in Australia. Photo courtesy of Wärtsilä.

Andy Vesey – CEO of AGL Energy, commenting on the Barker Inlet Power Station, said: “The Barker Inlet Power Station units will be able to ramp from zero to full capacity in five minutes, and are 28 percent more efficient than the Torrens A Station units they will replace.

“This will deliver gas savings of the same order, reducing costs and lowering emissions.

“As we move towards the staged mothballing of the first two units of Torrens A, we are delivering new investment in modern, fit-for-purpose generation which will supplement and replace the plant coming to the end of its useful life.”

Finnish power equipment manufacturer Wartsila has bagged a contract of over €100 million to deliver a dozen of its 50DF dual-fuel engines for the Barker Inlet Power Station.

The dual-fuel engines for the new Australian gas fired power plant will run primarily on natural gas while also having the option to switch to liquid fuel if required.

Javier Cavada – President of Wartsila Energy Solutions, commenting on the Barker Inlet Power Station, said: “The flexibility of the Wärtsilä solution is a key enabler for utilities to manage large amounts of solar and wind energy being introduced into the power system.

“It provides reliability of supply through its fast-starting and rapid response capability, and it is both fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.”

The dual-fuel engines for the new AGL gas fired power station – Barker Inlet Power Station will be delivered by Wartsila towards the end of 2018.