Mt Stuart Power Station

Key Facts:

  • North Queensland’s largest power station
  • Operational since January 1999
  • 414 MW generating capacity
  • Nine permanent employees
  • Can power 240,000 homes*
  • Can power up to 27.6 million energy efficient light bulbs**

Introduction

Mt Stuart is a peaking power station with a total capacity of 414 MW, making it the largest power station in North Queensland. As a peaking power station, Mt Stuart is designed to generate power at times of high demand, for example in summer when air conditioners tend to be extensively used and throughout winter when there is high demand for heating. Mt Stuart uses an open cycle gas turbine (OCGT) system.

History

Mt Stuart Power Station first became operational in January 1999. Origin acquired Mt Stuart in January 2003 from AES Corporation, at which time it had a capacity of 288 MW. In 2008, Origin undertook an expansion of Mt Stuart, constructing a 126 MW turbine generator.

The expanded Mt Stuart became operational in November 2009 and is now the largest power station in north Queensland with a total capacity of 414 MW.

Location

Mt Stuart Power Station is located approximately 12 km south of Townsville in Queensland in the suburb of Stuart.

Map of Mount Stuart Power Station

Powering Mt Stuart Power Station

Mt Stuart’s three turbines are fuelled by kerosene which is the same fuel that powers jet engines. All 414 MW of power generated goes into the National Electricity Market.


For more information, please contact:
Amanda Calvert
Community Relations Advisor
Phone: (07) 4758 9003
Fax: (07) 4758 9050
Mobile: 0429 155 037
Email: amanda.calvert@originenergy.com.au


For further enquiries about Mt Stuart Power Station:

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References

* Origin’s QLD customers = 695,462. Origin’s Peak Summer Residential Load = ~1,200 to 1,100 MWs (Feb’10 vs. Nov’09)

126 MWs implies ~73,000 – to ~79,000 customers assuming a single connection per household. To interpret and change for the whole station the calculations are: If peak load is 1200mw divided by approx 695 462 households this equals 1.72kw per household. 414mws equates to 414 000kws. Multiply this by 1.72kw and it gives us
240 698.

**414 MW station is 414 million watts. An energy efficient light bulb is generally 15 watts. 414 million divided by 15 = 27.6 million.

 
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