Origin Energy “delivers the goods” with innovative Ladbroke Grove power project
ASX/Media Releases
16 Aug 2000
16 August 2000
Australia’s first major “wellhead-to-wires” integrated gas fired power project at Ladbroke Grove was officially opened today by the Treasurer of South Australia, the Hon Rob Lucas MLC.
The Origin Energy power station and gas plant at Ladbroke Grove, 10km south of Penola in South Australia’s southeast, now supplies South Australians with an extra 80MW of much needed electricity.
Built to meet the increasing demand for power in the state, Origin Energy’s $65 million power station & gas plant uses natural gas from an adjacent gas field that would otherwise have been left in the ground because it contains a high percentage of inert gas.
Origin Energy’s Managing Director Grant King said “Ladbroke Grove is an excellent example of how Origin Energy uses its integrated energy position to identify an opportunity, commercialise a resource and work with suppliers to adapt innovative leading technology to a unique application.”
The Ladbroke Grove Power Station is the first privately owned fully merchant power plant in South Australia under the new National Electricity Market (NEM). Stage One was completed in February 2000 with Stage Two completed in June, in each case in time to meet periods of high electricity demand in summer and winter.
Origin Energy developed, owns and operates the Ladbroke Grove Power Station and also operates the Gas Plant on behalf of the company and its joint venture partner Australian Worldwide Exploration. Electricity produced by the power plant is traded by Origin Energy into the market. The company is an active market participant in the NEM, dealing in over 18TWh of electricity swaps and options over the past two years.
The project is also part of Origin Energy’s wider strategy of developing a clean energy portfolio, which today includes over 400MW of efficient natural gas fired power generation and cogeneration projects.
“By focussing our efforts on power generation fuelled by natural gas, we offer customers ‘cleaner’ electricity. Less greenhouse emissions are produced using modern natural gas fuelled technologies, such as at Ladbroke Grove, than with older systems and coal fired generators. Ladbroke Grove will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 80,000 tonnes per year by displacing generation from coal”, said Mr King.
“We have appreciated the cooperation of the South Australian State Government, the local council and community throughout the development process. And the focus directed to the project by the lead contractor, Alstom Power ensured critical timetables were met. This broad based support has been instrumental in enabling us to bring quickly the Ladbroke Grove facility from concept to commercial operation”, Mr King said.
The Ladbroke Grove project builds on previous investments in South Australia including the 180MW Osborne Cogeneration, national call and accounting processing centres, the continuing development of the Otway Basin gas province, and plans to commercialise renewable energy in the Green Triangle area.”
For more information on this media release, please contact:
Andrew Stock
General Manager, Major Industry & Power
Origin Energy
Ph (08) 8217 5817 or Mobile 0417 876 470
Yvette Reade
Manager Public Relations
Origin Energy
Ph (08) 8217 5376 or Mobile 0419 043 042
Australia’s first major “wellhead-to-wires” integrated gas fired power project at Ladbroke Grove was officially opened today by the Treasurer of South Australia, the Hon Rob Lucas MLC.
The Origin Energy power station and gas plant at Ladbroke Grove, 10km south of Penola in South Australia’s southeast, now supplies South Australians with an extra 80MW of much needed electricity.
Built to meet the increasing demand for power in the state, Origin Energy’s $65 million power station & gas plant uses natural gas from an adjacent gas field that would otherwise have been left in the ground because it contains a high percentage of inert gas.
Origin Energy’s Managing Director Grant King said “Ladbroke Grove is an excellent example of how Origin Energy uses its integrated energy position to identify an opportunity, commercialise a resource and work with suppliers to adapt innovative leading technology to a unique application.”
The Ladbroke Grove Power Station is the first privately owned fully merchant power plant in South Australia under the new National Electricity Market (NEM). Stage One was completed in February 2000 with Stage Two completed in June, in each case in time to meet periods of high electricity demand in summer and winter.
Origin Energy developed, owns and operates the Ladbroke Grove Power Station and also operates the Gas Plant on behalf of the company and its joint venture partner Australian Worldwide Exploration. Electricity produced by the power plant is traded by Origin Energy into the market. The company is an active market participant in the NEM, dealing in over 18TWh of electricity swaps and options over the past two years.
The project is also part of Origin Energy’s wider strategy of developing a clean energy portfolio, which today includes over 400MW of efficient natural gas fired power generation and cogeneration projects.
“By focussing our efforts on power generation fuelled by natural gas, we offer customers ‘cleaner’ electricity. Less greenhouse emissions are produced using modern natural gas fuelled technologies, such as at Ladbroke Grove, than with older systems and coal fired generators. Ladbroke Grove will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 80,000 tonnes per year by displacing generation from coal”, said Mr King.
“We have appreciated the cooperation of the South Australian State Government, the local council and community throughout the development process. And the focus directed to the project by the lead contractor, Alstom Power ensured critical timetables were met. This broad based support has been instrumental in enabling us to bring quickly the Ladbroke Grove facility from concept to commercial operation”, Mr King said.
The Ladbroke Grove project builds on previous investments in South Australia including the 180MW Osborne Cogeneration, national call and accounting processing centres, the continuing development of the Otway Basin gas province, and plans to commercialise renewable energy in the Green Triangle area.”
For more information on this media release, please contact:
Andrew Stock
General Manager, Major Industry & Power
Origin Energy
Ph (08) 8217 5817 or Mobile 0417 876 470
Yvette Reade
Manager Public Relations
Origin Energy
Ph (08) 8217 5376 or Mobile 0419 043 042