Callide coal-fired generator offline for urgent maintenance

A crucial state-owned coal-fired generator has gone offline for urgent maintenance just weeks after an $85m overhaul.

The Callide Power Station. Picture: William Debois

A crucial state-owned coal-fired generator has gone offline for urgent maintenance just weeks after an $85m overhaul.

But embattled government-owned CS Energy is forecasting Callide Unit B1 – and its 350MW capacity – to come back online in time to pump power into the system as the mercury rises above 35C.

Callide Unit B1 was taken offline at 9.30pm on January 14 after crews identified a “potential issue during a routine fortnightly test of safety systems” according to a CS Energy spokeswoman.

“Unit B1 is currently forecast to return to service tomorrow (16 January) and we will update the market if there is any change to this date once our maintenance crews have completed their preliminary inspections,” the spokeswoman said.

“Our highest priority is always the safety of our people and our plant, and the maintenance could not be deferred.

“We are dispatching all of our available units to run into the National Electricity Market to support Queensland’s power needs during the current hot weather.”

Callide Power Station’s battery storage.

The Bureau of Meteorology reissued an extreme heatwave warning on Wednesday for the state’s north, central coast and the Whitsunday.

A severe heatwave warning is also in place for Townsville, Rockhampton, and the central and north west.

On Thursday temperatures are set to reach 36C in Brisbane and stay warm through the evening — in conditions set to put a strain on the state’s electricity grid as Queenslanders blast their airconditioning and fans.

The outage of Callide Unit B1 comes just a month after a major overhaul was completed at the Callide B power station.

According to CS Energy the overhaul at B1 included the installation of the refurbished low pressure turbine rotor, inspection and repair of the high and intermediate pressure turbines, replacement of the generator circuit breaker, and boiler and valve statutory inspections.

“CS Energy’s focus moving forward is continuing to improve how we run our business so we can deliver safe, affordable and reliable energy for Queensland,” CS Energy chief executive Darren Busine said at the time.

Originally published as Callide coal-fired generator offline for urgent maintenance