Power company ENGIE will add new flexibility and reliability to the Pelican Point Power Station in South Australia by utilising gas-peaking power in mornings and evenings while embracing solar at its peak time of day.
ENGIE is converting one of the 489 MW Pelican Point Power Station’s two closed cycle gas turbines to an open cycle turbine, allowing the power station to start and ramp up more quickly.
The upgrade will allow the almosty 25-year-old power station to better provide gas peaking power at some points of the day and support high levels of solar power in South Australia during the day.
As part of upgrades a 40m high bypass stack is built at Pelican Point in Outer Harbour.
ENGIE’s Managing Director of Generation Australia, Liam Ellis said the improved start-up speed would add to the power reliability.
“Gas-fired power stations are critical to the energy transition, to back up renewables and help keep the lights on,” Ellis said.
“We’re keeping a 25-year-old power station at the leading edge of flexibility to better support high levels of solar power in South Australia during the day.
“Some of these sections weigh around 30 tonnes – that’s two and a half Adelaide buses – and they were placed by a 700-tonne crane, one of only a few in the country.”
Engie also owns and operates the 119MW Willogoleche Wind Farm near Hallet and the 46 MW Canunda Wind Farm in the state’s southwest as part of its generation network.