NSW Ports has welcomed the heaviest piece of cargo ever to arrive at Port Kembla with the import of a 372-tonne gas turbine that will power Australia’s first dual-fuel natural gas/hydrogen power plant.
The GE 9F.05 gas turbine, arrived at Australian Amalgamated Terminals (AAT) on 15 May and has since been transported to EnergyAustralia’s Tallawarra B Power Station, located in Yallah, on the shores of Lake Illawarra.
NSW Ports General Manager - Commercial and Business Development, Campbell Mason said the record shipment highlights Port Kembla’s role as one of Australia’s key trade gateways.
“The arrival of this record-breaking machinery again demonstrates Port Kembla’s capacity to support diverse trades and meet the growing needs of Australian industries,” he said.
“Port Kembla is a key growth port for general cargo, connecting metropolitan and regional NSW with the world for a diverse range of non-containerised cargo. It’s perfectly placed to support major sustainable infrastructure projects like the Tallawarra B Power Station build, and the construction of Australia’s first liquified natural gas import terminal.”
The Tallawarra B project will deliver the nation’s first carbon offset hydrogen and gas capable power plant, with direct greenhouse gas emissions from the project offset over its operational life.
The project, which is being built with the support of the NSW Government, will contribute $300 million to the economy and is expected to provide reliable power to 150,000 NSW homes each year, in peak periods.
EnergyAustralia’s Chief Operating Officer, Liz Westcott, said the turbine will be at the heart of the new power station.
“The turbine will enable Tallawarra B to fire up quickly, within 30 minutes, stepping in when the supply of renewable energy is low to help keep the lights on. It’s just what our modern energy system needs – fast and flexible generation that complements renewables,” Ms Westcott said.
“The construction of Tallawarra B is just one of the ways we’re making our promise of ‘doing, not just dreaming’ a reality.”
NSW Ports is an active member of the Illawarra Hydrogen Hub and is focussed on the port infrastructure required to support a hydrogen export industry in the region.
Port Kembla contributes $2.9 billion to the NSW economy each year, and supports 10,000 jobs, with 99 per cent of the port’s workforce living in the Illawarra. The port is close to growing population centres and boasts efficient road and rail connections to regional NSW to support major infrastructure projects.