|
|
|
As part of preparing for a carbon constrained future, Delta Electricity is investing to further improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse emissions at existing plants and in the construction of gas turbine plant which has lower emissions.
Generator Efficiency Standard Agreement
Delta's works to ensure that its existing power plants operate as efficiently as possible. We were the first electricity generator to sign onto the Generator Efficiency Standard, entering voluntary but legally binding agreements to improve power station efficiency.
All Delta’s plant now operate at best-practice standard and we continually seek improvements. Efficiency gains in the next 5 years are expected to reduce greenhouse emissions by 300,000 tonnes per year. New technological improvement include:
- developing a distributed control system at Vales Point to improve reliability, thermal efficiency and operational effectiveness.
- installing a sulfur-trioxide flue gas conditioning plant at Wallerawang resulting in a 33% reduction of total particulate emissions.
- achieving ISO 14001 Certification, the international standard for environmental management.
Gas Turbine Power Generators
Delta is diversifying its portfolio of generation to include gas fuelled power plants. Approval for the Colongra Gas Turbine plant on the Central Coast was granted in 2006, and construction is progressing well. Environmental studies have been completed for a combined cycle plant at Bamarang near Nowra and for an open cycle peaking plant at Marulan.
A Natural Gas Combined Cycle plant produces around 430 tonnes/GWh less carbon dioxide than coal fired plant. However, the use of gas to reduce our greenhouse intensity may not be a long term option to completely replace coal given the limits to Australia’s gas supplies. Using gas fuelled plant will help the energy sector respond to the need to reduce CO2 emissions while carbon capture and storage and other technologies are developed to utilise Australia’s vast fossil fuel reserves.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|