An update from The Eraring Power Station Community Forum

The Eraring Power Station Community Forum reconvened on 3rd May for the second meeting this year. It was eye opening to see the amount of activity that is being proposed to meet the August 2025 exit from coal-fired power generation.

There were several reports presented at the forum.

An overview of the proposed multinational purchase of Origin was given. A “Binding Scheme Implementation Deed” has been signed and support gained from the Origin Board to progress with the sale. The new owners bring significant investment funds - $20billion, -which will also support Origin’s fast tracking of renewable energy projects.

An update on progress towards the 80% coal ash recycling goal was presented. New interstate markets for coal ash are being explored and uses such as engineered filling of mine voids and road construction are being investigated. A need to invest in plant machinery to optimise extraction was identified.

The trial of stone columns to stabilise the Ash Dam wall was explained and deemed a viable solution to improve the dam safety to comply with the Dam Safety Act of 2019. The design works are 75% complete.

An overview of the Eraring Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) was provided. The BESS will provide 460MW charge/discharge for 2 hours.

A high-level overview of the Eraring Power Station Transition Road Map to meet the August 2025 coal-closure was presented. This process must negotiate a complex operations transition around closure processes, maintenance, and community needs. A detailed baseline understanding is being developed, identifying features of the site within a regulatory, technical, and repurposing context.

• Defining the opportunities for the coal closure-transition is still an active process. Yet to be determined is a vision for the site, identification of opportunities, any risks and their mitigation and any trade-offs. The next forum meeting will include a brainstorming session for possible uses of the site.
• Once potential uses and opportunities are identified, detailed planning of business cases, investment and environmental and engineering planning will be undertaken.
• The final stage of the Transition process will be the decommissioning of coal-fired power generation and rehabilitation and repurposing of the site for future use by Origin.

More information on Eraring's website about the current projects.

The minutes of the Eraring Power Station Consultative Committee also provide some detail of the various projects