Tallawarra News

Tallawarra tree planting program underway
 27 October 2008

Local Illawarra contractors have started a massive tree planting program this week to plant over 10,000 native plants around the perimeter of the new TRUenergy Tallawarra power station.

The initiative, part of TRUenergy’s plans to rejuvenate degraded lands and ensure the power station facilities blend into their surrounds, will be completed in stages and take approximately three weeks to complete.

Local Dapto business, R.K Evans, won the right to manage the project as part of a competitive tender process.

Local, indigenous native trees and shrubs grown from locally sourced seed stock will be supplied by another local business, Jamberoo Native Nursery.

Plant varieties including Eucalypts, Melaleuca and Acacias will be planted in large zones around the power station. The initial work will be in front and behind the power station compound.  

Selection of Illawarra indigenous trees is a priority for TRUenergy who are keen to boost the quality and supply of local indigenous plant species within the region.

Exotics and non-indigenous growth will also be removed as part of this program.

Announcing the tree planting program, Tallawarra Project Manager, Geoff McEntee, said all TRUenergy employees onsite were very keen for the project to get underway given the environmental and aesthetic benefits it would bring.

“Tree planting will be a very positive step in the process of completing the Tallawarra power station, as it will help to progress the power station construction site along towards becoming a finished facility that blends in with its local environment,” he said. 

“In the coming months, TRUenergy will invest significant resources in projects to rehabilitate degraded lands and restore the ecological value of the site.”

TRUenergy is fully funding the $ 400,000 initiative.

Notification of testing at Tallawarra
3/10/08

This Saturday 4 October, ALSTOM is planning to carry out the first ignition of the electricity generation unit at Tallawarra.  First ignition is one important milestone in the testing of the power station’s generation systems and infrastructure.

Comprehensive testing or ‘hot commissioning’ of the power station is required to ensure the power station’s optimal performance before it enters full commercial operation.

While Saturday’s tests will involve putting the power station into full operation for the first time, power will not be exported.  During the initial stage of these test operations, particulates may be produced for a short period as small amounts of construction residue within the turbine combusts. This is a normal occurrence and no cause for concern. Once the power station is operating no further particulate emissions will be visible.  This is as a result of TRUenergy’s state-of-the-art combustion system, which has been designed to ensure the power station’s ambient emissions will be negligible and well within our regulated environmental licence. 

Following first fire, the power station will progress though further, final stages of testing before reaching full commercial operations in time for Summer 2008/09.

Should you have any enquiries, please call 1800 336 003

Geoff McEntee, Construction Manager, Tallawarra 

Tallawarra construction well underway

Construction of TRUenergy Tallawarra is on track for completion in time for Summer 2008/09.

All of the power station’s generation buildings and administration facilities are now complete.  Landscaping is underway to ensure the power station and surrounding building blend in with the surrounding environment. Commissioning of the power station’s combined cycle electricity generation unit has also commenced.  This process of testing machinery is critical to ensure the optimal, safe operation of the power station prior to it starting full, commercial operation.

To date, TRUenergy personnel have undertaken around 1.5 million workhours to deliver the project.  Safety is – and remains – a key focus of the project team.

To find out more on how the power station will operate click here.

TRUenergy plans for Tallawarra expansion

TRUenergy is preparing an application under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act to develop additional natural gas generation capacity at its Tallawarra site to ensure customers have an ongoing reliable, secure energy supply.

If approved, both stations could together produce a nominal 800MW, enough power to supply around half a million homes.