The ‘dual fuel’ power station development approvals will allow the developers to choose whether the new base load power stations will be gas or coal-fired.
Delta Electricity proposes to add a 2,000 megawatt (MW) power station near the 1,400 MW coal-fired Mt Piper power station.
Macquarie Generation is also proposing a 2,000 MW station in the vicinity of the 2,640 MW Bayswater B coal-fired power station.
Macquarie said that the approval also stipulates inclusion of carbon capture and storage provisions in final power station design.
Article continues below…Commenting on the approvals, New South Wales Minister for Planning Tom Kelly said “The final fuel source will be determined at the project application stage based on future regulatory and market conditions and subject to meeting all required standards of environmental performance.”
Mr Kelly said that project applications will now have to be lodged outlining the specific design of the stations, including the fuel sources, before approval and any construction can begin.
