{{Short description|Power station in Tasmania, Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox power station |name = Tamar Valley Power Station |image = |location = [[Tamar Valley, Tasmania|Tamar Valley]], [[Tasmania]] |owner = [[Hydro Tasmania]] |status = [[Base load]] |th_fuel_primary = [[Natural gas]] |ps_combined_cycle = Yes |ps_units_operational= 5 |ps_electrical_capacity= 388 [[Megawatt|MW]]<ref name="abc" /> |commissioned = September 2009<ref name="abc" /> |decommissioned = }} '''Tamar Valley Power Station''' is a $230 million [[natural gas]]-fired [[power station]] located in [[Bell Bay, Tasmania|Bell Bay]] in the [[Tamar Valley, Tasmania|Tamar Valley]], [[Tasmania]]. It is owned by [[Hydro Tasmania]], and is immediately adjacent to the decommissioned [[Bell Bay Power Station]], which is also owned by Hydro Tasmania.<ref name="abc">{{cite web | year = 2009 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/16/2572347.htmhtm | title = Tamar Valley power station on track | publisher = [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] Online | access-date = 2009-10-01}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="age">{{cite news | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/Business/Tasmania-allows-Alinta-power-agreement/2006/10/26/1161749227305.html | title = Tasmania allows Alinta power agreement | publisher = [[The Age]] | access-date = 2009-02-05 | location=Melbourne | date=2006-10-26}}</ref>

The station's total nameplate capacity is 388 MW, and includes four peaking units totalling 178 MW, and one base-load [[combined cycle]] unit of 210 MW. The four peaking units are: three 40 MW (total 120 MW) pre-existing (from the [[Bell Bay Power Station]]) Pratt & Whitney FT8 Twin Pac gas turbine alternators (Units 101–103), and a single 58 MW Rolls-Royce Trent 60WLE gas turbine alternator (Unit 104) commissioned in May 2009. The base-load unit is a 210 MW Mitsubishi M701DA gas turbine operating in combined cycle mode (Unit 201) which completed commissioning in September 2009. The Mitsubishi's combined cycle capacity of 210 MW includes 140 MW generated directly by the M701 gas turbine, and a further 70 MW generated by the Mitsubishi steam turbine generator set.<ref>{{cite web |year =2010 |url =http://www.aemo.com.au/data/gendatatas.shtml |title =AEMO Tasmanian Generators |access-date =2010-01-18 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20091017123707/http://www.aemo.com.au/data/gendatatas.shtml |archive-date =2009-10-17 |url-status =dead }}</ref>

At the time of conception, the [[Tasmanian Government]] allowed [[Aurora Energy (Tasmania)|Aurora Energy]] to enter into long term energy supply agreement with [[Alinta]].<ref name="age" /><ref>{{cite web | year = 2007 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/tas/northtas/200703/s1874940.htm | title = Alinta signs $600m gas supply agreements | publisher = [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] Online | access-date = 2009-02-05}}</ref> During 2008 the Tasmanian Government via Aurora Energy acquired the construction project from the then owner Babcock & Brown Power (who had earlier purchased Alinta Energy generation assets).<ref name="abc" /><ref>{{cite web | year = 2009 | url = http://www.auroraenergy.com.au/news/default.asp?file=13-january-2009.txt | title = New acquisition improves energy security for Tamar Valley Power Station | publisher = [[Aurora Energy (Tasmania)|Aurora Energy]] Online | access-date = 2009-09-30 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090524021411/http://www.auroraenergy.com.au/news/default.asp?file=13-january-2009.txt | archive-date = 2009-05-24 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Aurora set up a fully owned subsidiary company "AETV Power" to complete and operate the power station assets.

On 1 June 2013 the State Government transferred the ownership of the power station from [[Aurora Energy (Tasmania)|Aurora Energy]] to [[Hydro Tasmania]], another state owned enterprise, and the predominant generator of electricity in the state.

Following its commissioning, low electricity demand, strong rainfall and substantial use of the [[Basslink]] [[interconnector]] with Victoria meant that the station generated only small volumes of electricity. In June 2014 Hydro Tasmania commenced the process of mothballing the combined cycle unit, and in January 2015 it sought the Tasmanian Government's approval to sell the unit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/releases/ministerial_statement_on_energy_security|title=Ministerial Statement on Energy Security|website=www.premier.tas.gov.au|access-date=2016-03-09}}</ref> In August 2015 Hydro Tasmania announced that the combined-cycle unit was not required for [[energy security]] and would be decommissioned and sold.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hydro.com.au/about-us/news/2015-08/changes-operation-tamar-valley-power-station|title=Changes to operation of Tamar Valley Power Station {{!}} Hydro Tasmania|website=www.hydro.com.au|access-date=2016-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309230123/http://www.hydro.com.au/about-us/news/2015-08/changes-operation-tamar-valley-power-station|archive-date=2016-03-09|url-status=dead}}</ref> The open-cycle units would be retained for peaking duty. However, only a few months later in December, Hydro Tasmania hired 12 temporary workers at the plant, indicating that the combined-cycle unit may be used again to slow the rate at which Hydro Tasmania's dam storages were depleted.

On 21 December 2015, [[Basslink]], the [[High-voltage direct current|HVDC]] interconnector with Victoria, was disconnected due to a faulty interconnector. It was originally expected that Basslink would be repaired and returned to service by 19 March 2016;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.basslink.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Basslink-Interconnector-update-27-January-FINAL1.pdf |title=Basslink interconnector update |website=Baslink.com.au |access-date=2017-03-08}}</ref> however, the link was not restored until 13 June 2016.<ref name="abc-restored-1">{{cite news |title=Electricity flow between Tasmania and Victoria restored |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-13/basslink-cable-fixed-power-flowing-victoria-and-tasmania/7505264 |access-date=29 July 2016 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) |date=13 June 2016}}</ref> A separate non-cable fault caused another failure of power flow on 22 June.<ref name="abc-fresh-outage">{{cite news |title=Basslink confirms fresh outage days after service resumes |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-22/basslnotherink-confirms-fresh-outage-undersea-cable/7532546 |access-date=29 July 2016 |work=ABC News |publisher=ABC-Australia |date=22 June 2016}}</ref> After almost 36&nbsp;hours power flow was again restored in the evening of 23 June.<ref name="abc-restored">{{cite news |title=Basslink running again after 'mechanical failure' caused outage |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-24/basslink-back-up-and-running-again/7539178 |access-date=29 July 2016 |work=ABC News |publisher=(ABC-Australia) |date=23 June 2016}}</ref>

Because of the [[2016 Tasmanian energy crisis]], Hydro Tasmania recommissioned Tamar Valley Power Station to help meet Tasmania's electricity needs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/expert-dismisses-energy-crisis-talk/news-story/856d4411548158581a20fda596216ed8|title=The Mercury|last=Richards|first=Blair|date=29 December 2015|website=themercury.com.au|publisher=|access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-12/more-delays-in-basslink-repair-tasmanian-premier-confirms/7162382|title=More generators ordered after delays confirmed on Basslink undersea cable repair|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2016-03-09}}</ref>

== See also == * [[2016 Tasmanian energy crisis]] * [[List of power stations in Tasmania]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{EnergyTasmania}}

[[Category:Natural gas-fired power stations in Tasmania]] [[Category:Tamar River]] [[Category:2016 Tasmanian energy crisis|Energy crisis, 2016]]