Northern Power Station was located at Port Paterson, South Australia about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) south of the city centre of Port Augusta.[1] It was coal powered with two 260 MWsteam turbines that generated a total of 520 MW of electricity. It was operated and maintained by Alinta Energy and was commissioned in 1985.[2] Northern received coal by rail from the Telford Cut coal mine, 280 km to the north. The plant ceased electricity production in May 2016 and decommissioned and demolished over the following few years.
Northern Power Station drew cooling water from Upper Spencer Gulf and returned it to the sea at an elevated temperature. The water was returned 7 °C warmer than the original intake water. The flow rate was 47 m³ per second.[5] Its outfall channel is intended to be used by Sundrop Farms to disperse desalination brine from a proposed seawater desalination plant to create freshwater for a greenhouse, expected to be completed in 2016.[6][7]
Despite being the lowest marginal cost fossil fuel generator in South Australia,[2] Northern's economic viability was progressively eroded as wind and solar generation increased in South Australia. During the operation of carbon pricing in Australia under the Clean Energy Act, Northern reduced operation to seasonal summer-only operation.[8]
In recent years its long-term future has been subject to much consideration, including life extension and complete replacement. In 2013, Alinta Energy announced that it was investigating developing a new low-grade coal deposit which could extend the working lives of both Northern and adjacent Playford B power stations until the year 2030.[9] Concept level proposals have been discussed for the replacement of the plant with either a gas-fired, a concentrated solar thermal plant[10] or a nuclear power plant.
On 11 June 2015, Alinta Energy announced its intent to permanently close the power station by March 2018, along with the related Playford B Power Station, and the Telford Cut coal mine that supplies them both with fuel.[11] This was updated on 30 July 2015 to bring the closure dates of all three facilities forward by 12 months, with closure to occur between March 2016 and March 2017.[12]
On 7 October 2015, Alinta Energy announced that Northern and Playford B would close around 31 March 2016.[13] Alinta Energy shut off the Northern Power Station on 9 May 2016.[14]
The power stations were demolished and the 1068ha site rehabilitated, including saltbush cover over the ash pond. Replanting was completed in May 2019, but challenged by drought.[15] The site was sold to Cu-River Mining to develop a trans-shipping port for iron ore, grain and other commodities.[16]
Fly ash playa and health concerns
With the permanent closure of the Playford and Northern power stations at Port Augusta, dampening flows of water across the adjacent fly ash playa ceased. This allowed the fly ash, which contains crystalline silica, to become airborne. On several occasions in 2016 and 2017, plumes of the fine grey fly ash powder became visible rising from the power station site and blew into the town of Port Augusta, concerning residents and impacting air quality.[17][18]
In February 2017, topsoil application trials were underway and liquid odour suppressant was being applied periodically to the flyash dam.[19]
Flyash Australia collected, processed and sold flyash from the Northern Power Station. The company, which is a joint venture between Boral and Cement Australia Pty Ltd,[20] delivered flyash directly to its customers or via its distribution centre in Regency Park, Adelaide. It now imports flyash to South Australia.[21]
