List of power stations in Victoria (state) facts for kids
Imagine a world without electricity! No lights, no phones, no computers, no video games. That's why power stations are so important. They are like giant factories that make the electricity we use every day. This page tells you about all the power stations, both working and retired, in Victoria, Australia. We're only looking at the bigger ones, those that can make more than 1 MW of power.
Did you know that Loy Yang is the biggest power station in Victoria? It makes a huge amount of electricity for homes and businesses.
How Victoria Gets Its Power
Victoria uses many different ways to create electricity. Some power stations burn fuel, while others use natural resources like water, sun, or wind.
Power from Coal
These power stations are called fossil fuel power stations because they burn coal to make electricity. When coal burns, it heats water to create steam. This steam then spins large machines called turbines, which are connected to generators that produce electricity.
| Power station | Power it can make | Type of coal | How coal arrives | Where coal comes from | How it cools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loy Yang A | 2,200 megawatts (3,000,000 hp) | lignite | conveyors | open cut | fresh cooling tower |
| Loy Yang B | 1,050 megawatts (1,410,000 hp) | lignite | conveyors | open cut | fresh cooling tower |
| Yallourn | 1,480 megawatts (1,980,000 hp) | lignite | conveyors | open cut | fresh cooling tower |
- The Yallourn Power Station is planned to close in 2028.
- Loy Yang B is expected to close in 2046.
- Loy Yang A is planned to close in 2035.
Power from Gas
Gas power stations use different types of gas to make electricity.
Gas Turbine Power Stations
These power stations use gas turbines, which are like jet engines. They burn natural gas to spin the turbines directly, making electricity.
| Power station | Power it can make | Number of turbines | Type of gas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bairnsdale | 92 megawatts (123,000 hp) | 2 | natural gas |
| Jeeralang | 432 megawatts (579,000 hp) | 7 | natural gas |
| Laverton North | 320 megawatts (430,000 hp) | 2 | natural gas |
| Longford | 31.8 megawatts (42,600 hp) | 6 | natural gas |
| Mortlake | 550 megawatts (740,000 hp) | 2 | natural gas |
| Somerton | 160 megawatts (210,000 hp) | 4 | natural gas |
| Valley Power | 300 megawatts (400,000 hp) | 12 | natural gas |
Gas (Thermal) Power Stations
These power stations burn gas to heat water and create steam, just like coal power stations. The steam then spins steam turbines to make electricity.
| Power station | Power it can make | Number of turbines | Type of gas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newport | 500 MW (670,000 hp) | 1 | natural gas |
Gas (Reciprocating) Power Stations
These power stations use gas in special engines, similar to car engines, but much bigger. These engines directly generate electricity. Many of them use landfill gas (gas from rubbish dumps) or sewage gas (gas from wastewater treatment). This is a great way to use waste to make power!
| Power station | Power it can make | Number of engines | Type of gas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boral Western Landfill, Ravenhall | 4.6 megawatts (6,200 hp) | 4 | landfill gas |
| Broadmeadows | 6.2 megawatts (8,300 hp) | 6 | landfill gas |
| Brooklyn Landfill and Waste Recycling Facility | 2.83 megawatts (3,800 hp) | 3 | landfill gas |
| Clayton | 11 megawatts (15,000 hp) | 11 | landfill gas |
| Corio (EDL) | 1 megawatt (1,300 hp) | 1 | landfill gas |
| Mornington Waste Disposal Facility | 1 megawatt (1,300 hp) | 1 | landfill gas |
| Morwell (Tramway Road) (HRL) | 5 megawatts (6,700 hp) | 1 | diesel |
| Narre Warren | 7.2 megawatts (9,700 hp) | 5 | landfill gas |
| Shepparton Wastewater Treatment Facility | 1.1 megawatts (1,475 hp) | 1 | sewage gas |
| Springvale | 4.2 megawatts (5,600 hp) | 4 | landfill gas |
| Sunshine Energy Park | 8.7 megawatts (11,700 hp) | 1 | landfill gas |
| Tatura Biogas Generator | 1.1 megawatts (1,475 hp) | 1 | sewage gas |
| Werribee (AGL Energy) | 7.8 megawatts (10,500 hp) | 7 | sewage gas |
| Wyndham Waste Disposal Facility | 1 megawatt (1,300 hp) | 1 | landfill gas |
Power from Water (Hydroelectric)
Hydroelectric power stations use the power of moving water to make electricity. Water flows from a high place, through large pipes, and spins turbines connected to generators. It's a clean way to make power!
| Power station | Power it can make | Number of turbines |
|---|---|---|
| Banimboola | 12.85 megawatts (17,230 hp) | 3 |
| Blue Rock Dam | 3.6 megawatts (4,800 hp) | 1 |
| Bogong | 140 megawatts (190,000 hp) | 2 |
| Cairn Curran | 2 megawatts (2,700 hp) | 1 |
| Cardinia Reservoir | 3.5 megawatts (4,700 hp) | ? |
| Clover | 24 megawatts (32,000 hp) | 2 |
| Dartmouth | 150 megawatts (200,000 hp) | 1 |
| Eildon | 120 megawatts (160,000 hp) | 4 |
| Eildon Pondage | 4.5 megawatts (6,000 hp) | 1 |
| Eppalock | 2.4 megawatts (3,200 hp) | ? |
| Glenmaggie | 3.8 megawatts (5,100 hp) | 2 |
| McKay Creek | 150 megawatts (200,000 hp) | 6 |
| Olinda | 1 megawatt (1,300 hp) | 1 |
| Preston | 1.86 megawatts (2,490 hp) | 1 |
| Rubicon Scheme | 13.5 megawatts (18,100 hp) | 1 |
| Silvan | 2.06 megawatts (2,760 hp) | 1 |
| Thomson Dam | 7.5 megawatts (10,100 hp) | 1 |
| Upper Yarra Reservoir | 1.13 megawatts (1,520 hp) | 1 |
| West Kiewa | 62 megawatts (83,000 hp) | 2 |
| William Hovell | 1.5 megawatts (2,000 hp) | 1 |
| Yarrawonga Weir | 9.45 megawatts (12,670 hp) | 2 |
Power from the Sun (Solar)
Solar power stations use sunlight to make electricity. They have many PV panels that capture energy from the sun.
| Project name | Location | Technology | Power it can make (MW) | Status | Completion Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bannerton Solar Park | Bannerton | PV single axis tracking | 110 | Operating | 2018 |
| Gannawarra Solar Farm | Lalbert | PV single axis tracking | 50 | Operating | November 2018 |
| Karadoc Solar Farm | Iraak | PV tracking flat panel | 90 | Operating | March 2019 |
| Numurkah Solar Farm | Numurkah | PV | 112 | Operating | July 2019 |
| Swan Hill Solar Farm | Swan Hill | PV single axis tracking | 19 | Operating | July 2018 |
| Yatpool Solar Farm | Yatpool | PV tracking flat panel | 81 | Operating | Late 2019 |
| Wemen Solar Farm | Liparoo | PV single axis tracking | 97.5 | Operating | October 2018 |
Power from Wind (Wind Farms)
Wind farms use giant wind turbines to capture the energy from the wind. The wind spins the blades, which turn a generator to make electricity. To learn more, see List of wind farms in Victoria.
Power from Biomass
These power stations burn biomass (which is like natural fuel from plants or waste) to create electricity. It's another way to use waste products to make power.
| Power station | Power it can make | Turbines | Type of fuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paperlinx, Maryvale | 54.5 megawatts (73,100 hp) | 4 | black liquor |
Power Stations That Are No Longer Working
Over the years, many power stations in Victoria have stopped working. This table lists some of them.
| Station | Type | Started working | Stopped working | Power it could make |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglesea | Coal | 1969 | 2015 | 150 megawatts (200,000 hp) |
| Ballarat A | Coal | 1905 | ?? | |
| Ballarat B | Coal | 1954 | ?? | 20 megawatts (27,000 hp) |
| Cassilis | Hydro | 1909 | ?? | |
| Energy Brix | Coal | 1956 | 2014 | 165 megawatts (221,000 hp) |
| Geelong A | Coal | 1900 | 1961 | 10.5 megawatts (14,100 hp) |
| Geelong B | Coal | 1954 | 1970 | 30 megawatts (40,000 hp) |
| Hamilton | Diesel | 1954 | ?? | 3 megawatts (4,000 hp) |
| Hazelwood | Coal | 1964 | 2017 | 1,600 megawatts (2,100,000 hp) |
| Horsham | Coal | 1913 | ?? | |
| Korumburra | Coal | ?? | ?? | |
| Mildura | Oil | 1909? | ?? | |
| Newport A | Coal | 1918 | 1979 | 95.5 megawatts (128,100 hp) |
| Newport B | Coal | 1923 | 1970s | 90 megawatts (120,000 hp) |
| Newport C | Coal | 1950 | 1981 | 120 megawatts (160,000 hp) |
| Redcliffs | Coal | 1954 | ?? | 10 megawatts (13,000 hp) |
| Richmond | Coal | 1891 | 1980 | 50 megawatts (67,000 hp) |
| Shepparton | Diesel | 1951 | ?? | 10.5 megawatts (14,100 hp) |
| Spencer Street | Coal | 1892 | 1982 | 109 megawatts (146,000 hp) (1969) |
| Swan Hill | Oil | 1910? | ?? | |
| Toora | Hydro | 1916 | ?? | |
| Warragul | Hydro | 1922 | ?? | |
| Warrnambool | Diesel | 1953 | ?? | 5 megawatts (6,700 hp) |
| Yallourn A | Coal | 1924 | 1968 | 75 megawatts (101,000 hp) |
| Yallourn B | Coal | 1932 | 1970s | 100 megawatts (130,000 hp) |
| Yallourn C | Coal | 1954 | 1984 | 100 megawatts (130,000 hp) |
| Yallourn D | Coal | 1957 | 1986 | 100 megawatts (130,000 hp) |
| Yallourn E | Coal | 1961 | 1989 | 240 megawatts (320,000 hp) |
| Yarram | Hydro | 1920? | ?? |
See also
- List of power stations in Australia
- List of coal power stations
- List of largest power stations in the world
