Eraring coal station to shut in 2029, leaving massive ash cleanup
Origin Energy has begun formal planning to close Australia's largest coal-fired power station. The closure is scheduled for April 2029.
Origin submitted a scoping report to NSW Planning for demolition and cleanup of the Eraring facility. The 2880-megawatt station supplies about 20% of NSW's power.
The station has changed its closure date multiple times over the past four years. The biggest challenge is managing coal ash.
The station produces roughly 1.3 million tonnes of ash every year. Some of it is recycled or sold for use in concrete and building products.
The rest is stored in an on-site dam. The dam covers 250 hectares.
By 2029, it is expected to hold about 35 million tonnes of waste. The ash contains heavy metals including arsenic, lead, cadmium, copper and zinc.
Community and environment groups worry these substances might seep into Lake Macquarie. A similar plan was developed for closing and demolishing Liddell power station in 2023.
- April 2029
- Closure date
- 2880 megawatts
- Station capacity
- About 20 percent
- NSW power supplied
- 1.3 million tonnes
- Annual ash production
Why it mattersEraring's closure is central to NSW's move to clean energy. However, the massive coal ash dam poses an environmental risk. The dam will require careful management and watching for decades.
AustraliaNSW's energy supply depends on Eraring remaining operational until 2029; the coal ash dam's long-term rehabilitation will be a major environmental and financial undertaking for the state.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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