1976

VICTORIA

•

• STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA

REPORT

ON

PROPOSED EXTENSION TO STATE GENERATING SYSTEM

LOY YANG PROJECT

• Ordered by the Legislative Assembly to be prin.led, 2nd June, 1976.

By Authority: C. H. RIXON, Government Printer, Melbourne.

C.l.-5257176-Price $1.60. •

•

•

• ..

STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA

REPORT

ON PROPOSED EXTENSION TO STATE GENERATING SYSTEM

LOY YANG PROJECT

1976 • CONTENTS Introduction Growth of Electricity Requirements 2 Balanced Development of the Generating System 2 Present Generating Capacity and Proposed Additions Of Base Load Plant 3 Reserve Generating Capacity 4 Description of Project 5 Project and Environmental Investigations 7 Parliamentary Public Works Committee Inquiry 8 Consultations With Other Bodies 9 Capital Expenditure 9 Operating Result 9 Financing, Including Services 10 Recommendations 10 Commendation 10 Plate No 1 - Loy Yang Project, Artist's Impression Plate No 2-Latrobe Valley Main Coal Fields Area Plan Plate No 3-Loy Yang Project Area Plan Plate No 4 Loy Yang Project, Layout for 2000 MW'' A" Power Station Appendix A- Report of Assistant General Manager (Development) Introduction 11 Description of Loy Yang Project 14 Environmental Effects 39 Need for Loy Yang Project 56 Size of Loy Yang Project 60 Fuels 63 Comparison of Brown Coal and Nuclear 65 Selection of Loy Yang Open Cut 66 Selection of Power Station Cooling Water Systems 68 General Comments 71 Public Participation 72 Final Selection of Loy Yang 73 Recommendations 74 The Hon J C M Balfour, MP Minister for Fuel and Power, Melbourne

Sir

STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA REPORT ON PROPOSED EXTENSION TO THE STA ·rE GENERATING SYSTEM LOY YANG PROJECT

... INTRODUCTION discarded on economic and environmental In this report, the Commission presents for grounds as discussed in some detail in Appen­ approval as an undertaking, within the meaning dix A. of Section 3(1) of the State Electricity Commis­ 6 The need for such a major project has been sion Act, the proposed construction of a 4000 foreshadowed in recent annual reports of the MW fuel and power generating project com­ Commission, and the preliminary report on the prising an open cut, two power stations, eacH 4000 MW Loy Yang Project submitted to you in with an installed capacity of 2000 MW, and February 1974 formed the basis for the review associated works to be located in the Parish of by the Parliamentary Public Works Committee Loy Yang, within the Shire of Traralgon, 7 km which led to its endorsement in principle of south-east of the City of Traralgon. The project the project. would be designated "Loy Yang". An artists im­ pression of the completed project is shown in 7 Appendix A summarises the extensive in­ Plate 1. vestigations made over a number of years by the specialist departments of the Commission to determine the future growth of load on the 2 The construction of this project is program­ generating system and the ways by which the med to achieve commercial service of the first base load component can be met. lt surveys the generating unit in 1983, by which time the resources to be used, the optimum sizes of brown coal fuelled Yallourn W Power Station power stations, generating units and open cut should have been completed to its full1450 MW plant, the environmental effects of t.he works, as capacity, the 1000 MW natural gas fired plant well as the economic and other factors which purchased for Newport should be in service, led to the recommendations of the Loy Yang and the 150 MW Dartmouth hydro-electric project. power station would be operational. Each of these projects has been approved as an under.: taking of the Commission. 8 The principal alternatives open to the Com­ mission are to develop further the brown coal 3 The attached report, dated February 1976, resources of the State or to develop projects of the Assistant General Manager (Develop­ utilising nuclear energy. A comparison of ment) (Appendix A) describes the project in brown coal and nuclear projects shows the detail and sets down the considerations which economic benefits to be gained by continuing led to a recommendation that the project be ap­ to utilise brown coal for the State's base load proved. This report has been adopted by the electricity generation and the advantage of Commission. reliability to be gained from the use of in­ digenous fuel resources. 4 The proposed project has been the subject of a public inquiry by the Parliamentary Public 9 During the period of development of the Works Committee which, in December 1975, Loy Yang base load project, additional peak issued its Progress Report No 1 which broadly load power stations will be necessary to sup­ endorses the proposals. plement the base load installations as well as the Newport Power Station which will have to 5 The project entails the opening and utilisa­ provide substantial regulating energy. This will tion of a third major coal field in the Latrobe ensure that there is available an acceptaole Valley, following the plans for development of total amount of generating plant to satisfy the the Yallourn field to its economic limit with the Commission's duty to provide a safe, economic expansion of the Yallourn W undertaking to and effective supply of electricity. Recommen­ 1450 MW, and having regard to the limited dations will be made at a later stage in relation resources of the Morwell open cut area without to peak plant requirements, which, since the a major change to the course of the Morwell completion of the Snowy Mountains Scheme by River. The three coalfields on which a 4000 MW the Commonwealth Government, must now be project could be developed are shown in Plate provided entirely from the Commission's own 2. The Maryvale and Narracan alternatives were resources. 10 The expenditure, including overheads, for 14 These forecasts of electricity requirements the first 2000 MW stage to the completion of Loy are near to the "low level" forecasts contained Yang A Power Station is estimated at $920M at in the Government's White Paper (Part 1 ), Sum­ January 1976 price levels, including $40M for mary of Victorian Energy Resources and Esti­ the extension of the transmission system from mated Requirements 1974-2004, prepared by Hazelwood Terminal Station to the Loy Yang the Ministry of Fuel and Power. The Parliamen­ Power Station. lt is believed to be in the best in­ tary Public Works Committee, in their Progress terests of the State that the substantial capital Report No 1, stated that- investments entailed in developing an open cut "The views of the State Electricity Com­ and common services for a new project should mission regarding the progressive in­ be spread over an increment of new generation crease in demand for electric power ap­ of not less than 4000 MW. pear to be quite realistic and well 11 The estimated cost of the 4000 MW authenticated, and the validity of for­ development comprising the open cut, two ward planning to provide for this de­ power stations and associated works is $1635M mand cannot reasonably be ques­ at January 1976 price levels, including $65M for tioned." extension of the transmission system from 15 The Commission's estimate of electricity Hazelwood Terminal Station to the Loy Yang requirements corresponds to a rate growth Project. averaging 6.6% pa compounded over the period up to 1990. This rate of growth is lower 12 The additional cost for reinforcement of the than that experienced over the past 15 years main transmission system from Hazelwood Ter­ when, during a period of high migration, rapid minal Station to the metropolitan load centres industrialisation and recovery from the periods for the 4000 MW Loy Yang development is esti­ of shortages after World War 2, the demand for mated to amount to $112M at January 1976 electricity grew at an average annual com­ price levels. pound rate of 7.8%.

BALANCED DEVELOPMENT OF THE GENERATING SYSTEM 16 The Commission's generating system re­ quires the development of new projects to meet GROWTH OF ELECTRICITY both the growth of demand and energy and to REQUIREMENTS replace obsolete plant. lt is necessary to main­ 13 The following table records the Commis­ tain a proper balance between the base load sion's latest estimate of the coincident max­ plant, which operates for extended periods and imum demand and energy at generator ter­ supplies the bulk of the energy requirements minals up to 1992: and therefore must h~ve low operating and fuel costs, and other plant types which meet the variati"ons in daily demand and cover outages of Financial SEC Estimate: the base load plant. Year Ending April1975 17 The determination of the most appropriate 30 June Maximum Energy plant mix on the system requires a process of Demand Requirements optimisation of the variables of capital cost of MW GWh different plant types, i.e. brown coal, hydro, gas 1976 3650 18 500 turbines, etc, cost and availability of fuel, plant 1977 3900 19 500 performances, operating costs and the like, in 1978 4100 21 000 order to achieve the minimum production cost 1979 4350 22 500 for annual and daily energy requirements. 1980 4600 23 500 1981 4950 25 500 18 The bulk of the regulating energy should be 1982 5250 28000 provided by plant which can achieve the lowest 1983 5600 29500 practicable cost of production over a wide 1984 5900 31 500 range of loading and the peak loads from which 1985 6300 33500 little energy is required should be supplied by 1986 6700 36000 plant with the minimum capital cost and operat­ 1987 7100 38000 ing costs. 1988 7550 40500 19 Over the past 50 years, it has been possible 1989 8000 43 500 to develop large base load generating units 1990 8550 46000 utilising the difficult to burn low-grade brown 1991 9050 49000 coal in the Latrobe Valley and, in 1974-75, 1992 9600 52500 brown coal fuelled units produced 85% of the

2 State's requirements for electricity. However, it hydro-electric plant will be required to meet the has not been possible, to date, to achieve a sig­ future peak load and reserve requirements of nificant measure of variable loading on these the system, and this has been assumed in arriv­ units without resorting to substantial quantities ing at the energy requirements from the base of high cost auxiliary fuel to stabilise combus­ load plant covered by this report. Little or no tion. change is expected in the proposed base load plant program as a result of determinations to 20 The Newport D Power Station, fuelled by be made in respect of future peak load plant re­ natural gas, was recommended to fulfil the role .. of energy regulation after the virtual completion quirements. of development of significant primary hydro­ electric resources available to the Commission. PRESENT GENERATING CAPACITY AND A gas fired station is an essential factor in the PROPOSED ADDITIONS OF BASE LOAD future operation of the system because the cur­ PLANT rent large brown coal plant is not flexible 22 Having regard to the forecast growth of enough to follow the load curve. The use of electricity demand and energy for the period up natural gas will provide low cost generation, to 1992, it is necessary to formulate a plant ex­ and will permit a reasonable load factor to be pansion program which will meet these require­ assigned to the station. ments in the most economic and effective man­ ner. 21 This report covers the expansion of base load generation for the period 1983-1992. A 23 lt is important that the system should be separate study is being made of the needs for developed in a way in which the greatest pro­ peak load plant over this period, both for the portion of the demand and energy requirements purposes of supplying the variable portion of are met by plant having the lowest cost of pro­ the load curve, and to act as reserve to cover duction for the mode of operation which is en­ outages of large generating units. lt is probable visaged. The series of optimisation studies of that a substantial measure of pumped-storage plant mix carried out for expansion of the TABLE 13 CONTRIBUTION TO FORECAST MAXIMUM DEMAND GENERATING PLANT CAPACITIES (MW) (to nearest 50 MW) YEAR ENDING 30JUNE 1976 1981 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Base Load Plant- Existing 2 950 2900 2900 2900 2900 2900 2900 2850 2800 2800 2750 Approved - Yallourn 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 W Stage 2 LOYYANG 500 1000 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Other Plant- Existing 1600 1300 1 300 1300 1 300 1300 1300 1300 1300 1 300 1300 Approved - Newport 1150 1150 1150 1150 1150 1150 1150 1150 1150 1150 and Dartmouth New (yet to be approved) 450 650 850 1050 1 250 1250 1 250 1450 1650 ------TOTALCAPACITY 4550 6100 7050 7750 7950 8650 9350 9800102501095011600 System m.d. ------Winter 3 650 4 950 5 900 6 300 6 700 7 100 7 550 8 000 8 550 9 050 9 600 Margin of Plant for Contingencies 900 1150 1 150 1 450 1 250 1 550 1 BOO 1 800 1 700 1 900 2 000 Reserve Margin (% ofm.d.) 25 23 20 23 19 22 24 23 20 21 21 Contingencies­ Overlapping outage of 2 largest units Allowance for adverse weather and economic conditions 150 250 300 350 350 350 400 400 450 450 500 Allowance for unfor­ seen load growth 150 250 300 300 300 350 350 400 400 450 450 Interruptible load -100 -1 00 -200 -200 -200 -200 -200 -200 -200 -200 -200

3 TABLE14 CONTRIBUTION TO FORECAST ENERGY REQUIREMENTS GENERATING SYSTEM ENERGY BALANCE (Rounded to Nearest 500 GWh) YEAR ENDING 30 JUNE 1976 1981 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 System Require- ments- Victorian Load 18 500 25 500 31 500 33 500 36 000 38 000 40 500 43 500 46 000 49 000 52 500 Hydro Electric • Pumping (4) 500 500 500 1 000 1 000 1 500 1 500 1 500 2 000 2 000 2 000

TOTAL 19 000 26 000 32 000 34 500 37 000 39 500 42 000 45 000 48 000 51 000 54 500

Generation - Base Plant­ Existing 16 000 17 500 17 500 18 000 18 000 18 000 18 000 17 500 17 000 17 000 16 500 Approved (1) - 4 000 5 000 5 000 5 500 5 500 5 500 5 500 5 500 5 000 5 000 LOYYANG (2) - 3 000 4 500 6 500 7 500 11 000 14 500 18 000 21 500 25 000

SUBTOTAL 16 000 21 500 25 500 27 500 30 000 31 000 34 500 37 500 40 500 43 500 46 500 Other Plant­ Existing 3 000 2 500 2 500 2 500 2 500 2 500 2 500 2 500 2 500 2 500 2 500 Approved (3) 2 000 4 000 4 000 4 000 5 000 4 000 4 000 4 000 3 500 4 000 New (4) 500 500 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 500 1 500

SUBTOTAL 3 000 4 500 6 500 7 000 7 000 8 500 7 500 7 500 7 500 7 500 8 000

TOTAL 19 000 26 000 32 000 34 500 37 000 39 500 42 000 45 000 48 000 51 000 54 500

Base Plant as % of Total 84 83 80 80 81 78 82 83 84 85 85 NOTES: 1 The approved base load generating plant not yet installed comprises 750 MW at Yallourn W. 2 Based on 500 MW units installed in 1983, 1985, 19f37, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992. 3 Energy produced mainly from Newport D, but also including Dartmouth Power Station. 4 Based on hydro-electric pumped storage plant which requires more input of energy for pumping than the output it generates. generating system have shown that the most RESERVE GENERATING CAPACITY economic and effective solution will result from 26 Reserve generating capacity is needed not the installation of 500 MW base load generating only to provide for routine maintenance, break­ units for service in the years 1983, 1985, 1987, downs and adverse operating conditions, but 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992. also to cover the effects on the load of extreme weather conditions and unexpected growth. 24 Tables 13 and 14 from Appendix A - Furthermore, it provides some insurance Report of the Assistant General Manager against possible delays in the continuing con­ (Development) - repeated below, show the struction program. contributions which existing, approved and 27 In 1965, when recommending additions to proposed generating plants will make to the the power stations at Hazelwood and Yallourn, system maximum demand (m.d.) and annual the Commission indicated its aim to maintain, energy requirements forecast for the years 1976 in each year, a reserve margin of capacity of at through to 1992. Due allowance has been made ~east 15% (expressed as a percentage of the for retirement of out-of-date plant and the plac­ maximum demand for the year). Although this ing into cold reserve of the older, low merit, target has been achieved and exceeded in sub­ high cost plant. sequent years, the Commission has neverthe­ less experienced difficulty at times in meeting 25 The program of installation outlined above the energy requirements. This has been occa­ will be carefully monitored and adjusted to en­ sioned by the overlapping and extended out­ sure that plant installation conforms with any ages of the modern unit type boiler/turbine­ significant variation from the present forecasts generator pi ants where breakdowns or of load growth. maloperation of components in any part of the 4 plant has necessitated shutdown of the entire 32 The Loy Yang coal field is located south­ unit. These problems have been accentuated by east of the city of Traralgon and some 15 km the limited inflows and water storages of our east of the Commission's existing undertakings hydro stations, which have resulted in their in­ in the Latrobe Valley. lt contains extensive coal ability to provide adequate energy to cover the deposits estimated at about 4700 million tonnes shortfall consequent upon forced outages of of readily recoverable reserves capable of sup­ the larger units in the brown coal base load sta­ porting large base load generating projects. tions. For the 4000 MW Loy Yang Project, 1000 million tonnes of these reserves will be required. 28 In 1964 the Federal Power Commission in America concluded in a power survey of the 33 The Commission's proposal envisages the strongly interconnected zones of electricity progressive development of a new open cut at generation within the United States that an Loy Yang to serve a 4000 MW power project. average reserve margin of 15% was sufficient. The initial stage of the project, comprising the During 1969, when the average reserve margin establishment of the open cut and the first 2000 had reduced to 16.6% from previously higher MW power station, is planned to come into levels, voltage reductions and load curtail­ commercial service between 1983 and 1988, ments became necessary and, in its 1970 Power and the second stage, comprising a further Survey, the Federal Power Commission revised 2000 MW station, between 1989 and 1992. Each its recommendation for reserve margin to 20% power station will have a greater capacity than in view of the industry's increasing dependence that installed at either Yallourn or Morweii­ on large and complex generating units. In 1973, Hazelwood. one of the main industry journals "Electrical World" reported the view of the industry itself that a reserve margin of somewhat more than 34 The recommended open cut will be located 20% was necessary. between Traralgon and Sheepwash Creeks and will be developed from the southern boundary 29 The US findings, together with reports from of the coal field towards Traralgon, as shown in other parts of the world, are in line with the ex­ Plate 3. perience of the Commission. The need to carry higher reserve margins appears to be an in­ 35 Three dredgers, each with a capacity of escapable outcome of the increasing use of some 60 000 tonnes/day, approximately twice large steam units to achieve maximum that of the largest dredger at Yallourn or Mar­ economy of scale. However, despite this need well, will be provided for the first 2000 MW to increase reserve margin, economic analysis stage. A fourth dredger of similar capacity will of capital and operating costs continues to be installed for the second 2000 MW stage. show the benefit of installing generating units of sizes as large as are technically feasible for 36 Coal will be transported from each dredger the power system concerned. by conveyors to a coal storage bunker at 30 The results of the Commission's investiga­ ground level between the two Loy Yang power tions of this aspect are discussed in some detail stations. Coal will be supplied to the power sta­ in Appendix A and bearing in mind the addi­ tions from the storage bunker by rising con­ tional plant complexities inherent in boilers veyors. burning high moisture content, low grade fuels and the greater downtime required for boiler 37 Initially, the overburden covering the coal cleaning and the relatively weak transmission seams will be placed in a nearby area south of tie which exists to New South Wales, a higher the open cut and the power station works. level of reserve is required in Victoria than Later, as coal winning progresses, the over­ might apply in the United States. The Commis­ burden removed will be placed in the worked sion has concluded that it will be necessary in out area of the open cut. the future to maintain a reserve margin of bet­ ween 20% and 25%. This matter will be kept 38 The two power stations will be located bet­ under review in examining the requirements for ween the boundaries of the open cut and exter­ additional peak joad plant. nal overburden dump as shown in Plate 3.

39 Each power station will comprise four 500 DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT MW generating units which will be some 40% 31 An artist's impression of the Loy Yang pro­ greater in capacity than the largest unit pre­ ject is shown in Plate 1 and this indicates the sently installed in the Latrobe Valley. Each unit general layout of the proposed undertaking, will be served by a single natural draught cool­ comprising a new open cut, two power stations, ing tower and have a single chimney stack. The transmission and other associated works. power station layout is shown on Plate 4. 5 40 The power generated will be transformed to 47 Overburden removed from the open cut 500 kV in switchyards located immediately during the first 20 years of operation will be south of each station. The electrical output will deposited in a formed dump which will be be transmitted to the Hazelwood Terminal Sta­ shaped into the surrounding topography, tion via three 500 kV lines in two separate ease" plante'd with trees and grassed. Ash from the ments. From the Hazelwood Terminal Station, operation of the power station and solids set­ the Loy Yang output will be transmitted to tled out from the waste effluents will be stored Melbourne via 500 kV lines. in the holding ponds which will be large enough to accommodate the wastes accumul­ 41 A low quality water supply for the first two ated over the life of the project. 500 MW units at Loy Yang is expected to be ob­ tained from the Hazelwood cooling pond and 48 Water vapour plumes from the power sta­ make use of the artesian water resulting from tion cooling towers will have little effect on the the operation of the Morwell open cut. The local climate and cause no change of ambient water will be p Jmped to the high level storage, air condition even under the most adverse con­ west of Traralgon Creek, as shown in Plate 3, ditions. Each boiler plant will incorporate the and then gravitate to the project site. most modern firing system, a number of stages of dust precipitators to limit the emissions of 42 For further development of water supply to particulates to air, and a chimney stack high the Loy Yang Project, an additional water enough to ensure that the gaseous emissions storage and regulation of the Gippsland are well dispersed and diluted before reaching streams will be required. As indicated in evi­ ground level. Loy Yang coal has lower sulphur dence to the Parliamentary Public Works Com­ and ash content than the alternative coals mittee Inquiry on Latrobe River Water available. Resources, it is essential that the storage be large enough to supply the water needs for 49 The open cut and power station plant will power generation as well as other users in the be designed to limit the noise at the project area. boundary. Use will be made of noise control equipment and acoustically designed barriers, 43 High quality water for the project will be ob­ as required, to suppress noise. tained from the Commission's present entitle­ ment of water from the Tyers River and will be 50 A buffer zone will be provided around the supplied from the Latrobe Valley Water and works area to screen operations, provide Sewerage Board's system. security and avoid nuisance to the public. A similar zone of approximately one km will be 44 The development of the project will require provided between the open cut and the the construction of new access roads to the southern limi~ of the urban development in the site, a railway siding near the Morwell Briquette Traralgon City to protect the residents from Factory, as well as some deviations and possible earth movements, noise and dust. In upgrading of existing roads near the project other areas, the buffer zone would vary in such as Traralgon Creek, Gormandale and general from about 300 m to the south of the Callignee South Roads. The small community overburden dump to about 800 m around the facilities at Traralgon South will need to be eastern and western boundaries of the open relocated on a suitable site acceptable to the cut. local residents. 51 The construction of the Loy Yang Project 45 Liquid waste effluents originating from the will require a gradual build-up in the work force open cut, power stations and other associated reaching a peak of about 1500 by 1981 for A works will be collected in a number of holding Station and a peak of about 2000 by 1988 with a ponds, such as the ash and settling ponds continued development of A and B Stations. shown in Plate 3, and suitably treated before However, it is estimated that the net increase in their disposal. the peak construction work force associated with the Commission's undertakings in the 46 Where appropriate, the treated effluents Latrobe Valley in the 1980s will only be some from the holding ponds will be discharged to 1000 after allowing for absorption of the work the nearby Traralgon Creek. The effluent from force engaged on the construction of the the ash pond, however, has too high a con­ Yallourn W project, due for completion by 1980. centration of dissolved salts and will be dis­ charged away from the site via a pipeline to the 52 The operation of the project, including the ocean. The effluent discharged to the ocean power station, open cut and associated works, will have similar constituents to those in sea will require some 700 to 1000 personnel for the water and should have no effect on the receiv­ first 2000 MW stage and about 1000 to 1500 per­ ing waters. sonnel for the full 4000 MW development. 6 However, the net increase in the Commission's the Commission has based its rejection of operating personnel in the Latrobe Valley un­ them. dertakings as a consequence of the 4000 MW 58 To develop a proposal to the extent where Loy Yang development will only be an esti­ design details and environmental effects can be mated 500, after due allowance has been made assessed, it is necessary to initiate investiga­ for the retirement and demanning of some of tions, studies and planning many years before the older generating plant. the project concept can be consolidated into its 53 In the development of the recommendation near final form. The work is sufficiently com­ for the project, it was necessary to investigate plex to involve a number of multi-disciplinary the alternatives of the fuels which might be teams from both within and outside the Com­ utilised, and the optimum size of both power mission's service. Vast quantities of essential stations and generating units. The possibilities data on the brown coal resources, the quality of oil, natural gas, brown coal, black coal, and and hydrology of water resources, air quality nuclear fuelled plant were examined, together and local meteorology, etc. have been col­ with alternative options of various brown coal lected over a lengthy period and analysed for fields in the Latrobe Valley. The evaluation of use as a basis of engineering feasibility studies these alternatives is covered, briefly, in Sec­ and development of alternative projects. Com­ tions 6, 7 and 8 of Appendix A. plex and lengthy environmental studies have been carried out. The objectives of these 54 With the growing move towards nuclear studies were to determine- generation elsewhere in the world, a close study was made of the relative economics of • the characteristics and conditions of the nuclear and brown coal fuels for a 4000 MW environment prior to development of the project. lt is clear from this study that, with the project; current stage of nuclear development, brown • the anticipated environmental effects of the coal shows significant economic merit, the proposed actions due to project develop­ magnitude of which is apparent from the esti­ ment; mated costs of energy sent out - 0.8 • the anticipated effects of the operation of cents/I

7 PARLIAMENTARY PUBLIC WORKS 66 Following submissions of evidence over a COMMITTEE INQUIRY period from December 1.g74 to December 1975, 62 Following the comprehensive investiga­ the Parliamentary Public Works Committee, tions which led to nomination of Loy Yang as after due consideration, presented to His Ex­ the preferred site for the next major develop­ cellency the Governor in Council its Progress ment of a base load power generation complex, Report No 1 on the Loy Yang Coal Reserves In­ the Commission issued to interested parties a quiry dated 18 December 1975. report entitled 'Proposed Loy Lang Project' dated February 1974. After a study of the pro­ 67 The recommendations of the Committee in posal, the Government took the action of refer­ its progress report are ring it for examination by the Parliamentary "The Committee broadly endorses the Public Works Committee with the following proposals of the State Electricity Com­ terms of reference: mission of Victoria for the development "To inquire into and report upon the of a 4000 MW power generating plant at proposals by the State Electricity Com­ Loy Yang and recommends - mission of Victoria for the development a that the Government authorises the of a power generating project on the State Electricity Commission of Vic­ Loy Yang coal field south-east of the toria to proceed with the planning of City of Traralgon, as described broadly the Loy Yang Project based on the in the Commission's report entitled development of a 4000 MW power "Proposed Loy Lang Project" dated generating station sited at Loy Yang February 1974, wi+h particular and utilising brown coal from the Loy reference to - Yang field; a the effects of the proposed project on b that the Government takes notice that the environment and whether these this is a progress report only and that effects are acceptable having regard the Committee, per medium of a to the public interests; and comprehensive final report, will b any other matters which the Commit­ make recommendation concerning tee considers may be relevant to the the ancillary issues involved in the Inquiry." Inquiry".

63 The terms of reference of the Inquiry and 68 lt is anticipated that, as further detailed pro­ the manner in which it has been conducted ject planning takes place, additional informa­ have required the Commission to - tion can be made available to the Committee to hEiJip it in its consideration of the ancillary • provide a justification of the need for the issues. project; • indicate the various ways in which this need 69 However, it is noted that, in their Progress Re­ might be satisfied; port No 1, the Committee has stated inter alia - • submit a comprehensive description of the "There is evidence before the Commit- Loy Yang project; tee on the subordinate issues involved • present the results of extensive environ­ in the Inquiry that requires careful mental studies undertaken by the Com.mis­ analysis and assessment, but there are sion, including an evaluation of the en­ no matters of serious concern that will vironmental effects of the project. inhibit the proposed Loy Yang develop­ ment". 64 The process of the Inquiry, together with Consequently, the Commission believes that it the widespread distribution of copies of the is not necessary to delay the submission of this Commission's submissions to the Inquiry, and report until the findings of the Committee on the substantial body of information presented ancillary aspects are issued in their supple­ by a wide range of interests, has ensured that mentary reports. Furthermore, based on the evi­ people who are interested or affected by the dence presented at the Inquiry, the Committee proposal were well informed and, therefore, has also concluded that- better able to present their views. "With regard to compliance with regulations concerning protection of 65 Witnesses to the Inquiry have included a the environment, the Committee has wide cross-section of commynity groups and been assured by the State Electricity others, and it is gratifying to note the general Commission of Victoria and the support ror the proposals set out in the Com­ regulating authorities that all licensing mission's submissions. requirements can be satisfied.

8 There are ways and means available to • nineteen governmental or local govern­ the State Electricity Commission for mental authorities. minimising adverse environmental • six private industrial companies. effects". • seventeen organisations of various kinds, the majority of them being concerned with CONSULTATIONS WITH OTHER BODIES the use of resources, conservation and the 70 Throughout the investigation and planning environment. of the Loy Yang Project, the Commission has encouraged community involvement. Informa­ • Victorian Trades Hall Council. tion and progress reports have been made • Federated Engine Drivers and Firemen's freely available and opinions and advice have Association (Victorian Branch}. been sought from all those likely to be con­ • Gippsland Trades and Labour Council. cerned.

71 As a part of the planning of the Loy Yang CAPITAL EXPENDITURE Project, approaches have been maae to a large 78 The estimates of capital expenditure are number of organisations to ensure that all rele­ listed below for both the completed 4000 MW vant factors have been taken into considera­ development and for the 2000 MW stage for tion. These organisations included governmen­ which immediate authorisation is sought. tal and local governmental authorities, private These expenditures will commence in 1977 and industrial companies, trade unions, conserva­ will be made over an extended period of years. tion bodies and various clubs and associations. The expenditures will not finish until 1989 for the 2000 MW stage and 1993 for the full 4000 72 Some 40 organisations have been con­ MW development. sulted or have become involved in matters affecting the project, and about 50 more have $MILLION been kept informed of the Commission's pro­ 2000MW 4000 MW posals. STAGE DEVELOPMENT Open Cut 165 220 73 A detailed list of these organisations and Power Station 715 1350 the extent of their involvement was included in Transmission 40 65 the evidence submitted to the Parliamentary Public Works Committee entitled "Loy Yang TOTAL 920 1635 Project, Consultations with Various Organisa­ tions". 79 These capital costs include direct and in­ 74 The organisations may be divided into direct overheads which together average about three main groups: 18% of the direct costs. Interest during con­ i Those immediately concerned with the struction was taken into account in the development of the Loy Yang project. economic comparisons leading to the selection ii Those involved in environmental in­ of Loy Yang by making an appropriate vestigations associated with the project. allowance for the time when the expenditure iii Those kept informed of the Commis- would be incurred. However, in accordance sion's proposals for the project. with current practice, the interest actually in­ curred during construction will be met from 75 Some 27 organisations fall into the first revenue and is excluded from the estimates. category. With the exception of two private companies and a field naturalists club, they are 80 The estimates have been based on current all governmental bodies. Discussions were in­ expenditure on similar works and also from itiated with most of them in about mid 1974 and preliminary estimates from suppliers competent they have been progressively supplied with in­ to contract for the main plant. The estimates are formation including press releases, technical at January 1976 price levels. reports and the submissions to the Parliamen­ tary Public Works Committee. OPERATING RESULT

76 Approximately 20 organisations, which 81 The estimates of unit costs on a project of make up the second group, have been involved the size of Loy Yang depend markedly on the in environmental investigations initiated by the time at which the estimates are made. This is Commission in relation to the project. These in­ because construction will extend over a great vestigations cover physico-chemical, biologi­ many years, the open cut being developed to cal and human aspects of the environment. full output in step with the installation of generating units in the power station, and the 77 There are 45 bodies in the third category­ progressive increase in operating persof'lnel for those kept informed by the Commission: the project.

9 82 Furthermore, a station the size of Loy Yang nets to finance these services which should be will have a marked effect on the unit costs of regarded as part of the development of the coal and electricity at the other Latrobe Valley region. stations since Loy Yang will have lower incre­ mental operating costs than at Yallourn and RECOMMENDATIONS Hazelwood and will therefore be given priority lt is recommended- in loading. 87 that approval be given for the construction 83 The estimated generating costs in the early of the 4000 MW Loy Yang Project located years of the fully developed 4000 MW Loy Yang south-east of the City of Traralgon consisting of Project are listed below: an open cut, two power stations, each of 2000 MW capacity made up of 500 MW units and $MILLION associated works, together with the extension PER ANNUM of the 500 kV transmission system from Hazel­ Capital Charges wood Terminal Station to the project, and that (Interest and Depreciation) 153 the project be submitted on that basis for the Operation, Maintenance approval of the Governor in Council as an "un­ and Other Charges 40 dertaking" within the meaning of the State Electricity Commission's Act; TOTAL 193 88 that authorisation be given to proceed im­ Energy Cost (sent out) mediately with the first stage of the project, cents/kWh 0.8 comprising the 2000 MW Loy Yang A Power Station and the associated open cut, transmis­ The above charges include direct and indirect sion and other works so that progressive ten­ overheads. ders may be called for the ·500 MW turbo­ FINANCING, INCLUDING SERVICES generators, boilers, coal winning plant and an­ cillary plant with a view to service of the first 84 As set out in Paragraph 11, the total cost, unit for the winter of 1983; based on January 1976 cost levels, of the pro­ posed Loy Yang development, including the 89 that concomitant approval be given to the power station (4000 MW), transmission and consequential development of the main coal winning facilities, is expected to be transmission system to the Melbourne load $1635M during its development from 1977 to area and the necessary further development of 1993. the metropolitan, regional and interstate transmission system to provide efficient inter­ 85 The financing of this project, together with connection between the various generating the completion of other power stations stations arid to provide the safe, economical (Yallourn W and Newport) and associated and effective supply of electricity throughout transmission and distribution facilities, will re­ the State. quire the expenditure of very large amounts of capital far in excess of the levels of capital COMMENDATION programs of recent years. With the completion 90 The Commission wishes to record its ap­ of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric preciation of the very substantial contribution Scheme, the full burden now devolves upon the made by officers throughout the service in Commission to provide the capital for all the carrying out the investigations necessary to generating plant needed in the State for future enable this recommendation for the Loy Yang load growth. lt will be necessary, therefore, for Project to be submitted, and for their work the Commission to examine, in collaboration associated with the Parliamentary Public Works with the State Treasury, all additional sources Inquiry into the proposal. of capital funds to ensure that adequate finance is available. Construction delays enforced by capital shortages would add considerably to * * * the overall cost of the project. We have the honour, Sir, to submit the fore­ 86 In addition to the capital expenditure which going for your consideration. would be incurred directly by the Commission J C Trethowan (Chairman) on the Loy Yang Project, the authorities respon­ T P Scott (Commissioner) sible for ancillary services, such as the water B J Callinan (Commissioner) storage on the Upper Latrobe River Catchment C R Darvall (Commissioner) ($20M), roads, housing and general community services, will require additional finance. The FP Chipperfield. Commi~sion considers that these authorities SECRETARY should have access through their usual chan- 26 February 1976

10 STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA

APPENDIX 'A'

REPORT OF ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER (DEVELOPMENT)

ON

PROPOSED LOY YANG PROJECT

1976

STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA APPENDIX 'A' REPORT OF ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER (DEVELOPMENT) ON PROPOSED LOY YANG PROJECT

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION 11 1.1 General 11 1.2 The Proposal 11

2 DESCRIPTION OF THE LOYYANG PROJECT 14 2.1 General 14 2.2 Land 14 2.3 Open Cut 15 2.3.1 General 15 2.3.2 Geology 17 2.3.3 Coal Quality 17 2.3.4 Development 19 2.3.5 Overburden Removal and Disposal 21 2.3.6 Plans 21 2.3.7 Associated Works 21 2.3.8 Buffer Zone 24 2.4 Power Station 25 2.4.1 General Arrangement 25 2.4.2 Number and Size of Units 25 2.4.3 Layout 25 2.4,4 Geology 27 2.4.5 Fuel Supply and Characteristics 27 2.4.6 Plant 28 2.5 Transmission 29 2.5.1 Switchyard 29 2.5.2 Transmission Lines 31 2.5.3 Auxiliary Supply 32 2.6 Water Supply 32 2.6.1 General 32 2.6.2 Water Requirements 32 2.6.3 Artesian Water 33 2.6.4 Latrobe River Water 33 2.6.5 Quantities for Alternative Water Supply Schemes 33 2.6.6 Proposed Water Supply Scheme 34 2.6.6.1 Low Quality Water 34 2.6.6.2 High Quality Water 34 2.6.6.3 Alternative Water Supply Scheme 36 2.7 Services 36 2.7.1 Road and Rail Works 36 2.7.2 Transport of Heavy Loads 36 2. 7.3 Stores/Workshops/Depots 37 2.7.4 Security of Project 37 2.7.4.1 General 37 2.7.4.2 Fire Protection 37 2. 7.4.3 Earth Movements 37 2.7.4.4 Car Parks 37 2.8 Personnel 38 2.8.1 Construction 38 2.8.2 Operation 38 2.9 Construction Program 38 2.10 Cost Estimates 38 2.10.1 General 38 2.10.2 Capital Expenditure 38 2.10.3 Operating Charges 38 2.10.4 Energy Costs 39 3 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 39 3.1 General 39 3.2 Thermal Balance 40 3.3 Water 40 3.3.1 Water Usage 40 3.3.2 Waste Effluent from Project Operation 41 3.3.2.1 Cooling Tower Purge 41 3.3.2.2 Ashing Wastes 41 3.3.2.3 Other Power Station Wastes 42 3.3.2.4 Coal Handling Area Wash Down Wastes 42 3.3.2.5 Open Cut and Overburden Dump Works 42 3.3.2.6 Oil Wastes 43 3.3.2.7 Domestic Sewage 43 3.3.3 Treatment and Disposal of Liquid Wastes 43 3.3.3.1 Ash Pond 43 3.3.3.2 Settling Pond 43 3.3.3.3 Open Cut Fire Service Reservoir 44 3.3.3.4 Overburden Run-off Treatment Ponds 44 3.3.3.5 Construction Storage Area Wastes 44 3.3.3.6 Chemicals 44 3.3.4 Summary of Treated Effluent Discharged from Loy Yang 45 3.3.5 Discharges to Local Streams 46 3.3.6 Ash Effluent Disposal 47 3.4 Land 47 3.4.1 Open Cut 47 3.4.2 Overburden Dump 47 3.4.3 Other Features 48 3.5 Effect on Facilities in Project Area 48 3.5.1 Traralgon South 48 3.5.2 Wild Flower Reserve 49 3.5.3 Gravel Pits 49 3.5.4 Roads 49 3.5.5 Others 49 3.6 Air 49 3.6.1 General 49 3.6.2 Discharges to Air 50 3.6.2.1 Features of Boiler Plant 50 3.6.2.2 Flue Gases 51 3.6.2.3 Chimney Emission 51 3.6.2.4 Chimney Plume Dispersion 52 3.6.2.5 Comparison with Air Quality Standards 52 3.6.2.6 Other Particulate Matter from Power Station Chimney 52 3.6.2.7 Dust 53 3.6.2.8 Vapour Plumes from Cooling Towers 53 3.6.2.9 Monitoring 53 3.7 Noise and Ground Vibration 54 3.7.1 General 54 3.7.2 Noise Sources 54 3.7.3 Noise Limits 54 3.7.4 Noise during Construction 55 3.7.5 Intermittent Noise 55 3.7.6 Ground Vibration 55 3.7.7 Monitoring 55 3.8 Appearance 55

4 NEED FOR LOYYANG PROJECT 56 4.1 Load Growth 56 4.2 Reserve Generating Capacity 57 4.3 System Plant Requirements' 58 4.3.1 Peak Load Plant 58 4.3.2 Base Load Plant 60

5 SIZE OF THE LOYYANG PROJECT 60 5.1 Coal Reserves 60 5.2 Project Time Span 61 5.3 Open Cut Capacity and Plant 61 5.4 Size of Generating Units 61 5.5 Station Size 62 5.6 Project Size 62

6 FUELS 63 6.1 Brown Coal 63 6.2 Nuclear Fuel 64 6.3 Natural Gas 64 6.4 Oil 64 6.5 Black Coal 65

7 COMPARISON OF BROWN COAL AND NUCLEAR 65 7.1 Status of Nuclear Power 65 7.2 Evaluation of Brown Coal and Nuclear Projects 65

8 SELECTION OF LOY Y ANG OPEN CUT 66

9 SELECTION OF POWER STATION COOLING WATER SYSTEMS 68 9.1 Natural Draft Cooling Towers 69 9.2 Fresh Water Cooling Ponds 69 9.3 Forced Draft Cooling Towers 70 9.4 Dry Cooling Towers 70 9.5 Direct Sea Water Cooling 71

10 GENERALCOMMENTS 71

11 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 72 11.1 Consultations with Other Bodies 72 11.2 Parliamentary Public Works Committee Inquiry 72

12 FINAL SELECTION OF LOYYANG 73

13 RECOMMENDATIONS 74

LIST OF PLANS Fig. 1 Artist's Impression Fig. 2 General Layout Fig. 3 Model Fig. 4 Locality Plan Fig. 5 Aerial View Fig. 6 Land Zoning Fig. 7 Land Acquisition Fig. 8 Latrobe Valley Main Coalfields Fig. 9 Alternative Open Cuts Without Major Diversi'on of Morwell River Fig. 10 Area Plan Fig. 11 Geology (Plan and Sections) Fig. 12 Geology Plan Fig. 13 Ash Distribution Fig. 14 Open Cut Development to Year 1985 Fig. 15 Open Cut Development to Year 1990 Fig. 16 Open Cut Development to Year 2005 Fig. 17 Open Cut Development to Year 2020 Fig. 18 Site Layout of Loy Yang "A" and "B" Power Stations Fig. 19 Layout for 2000 MW "A" Power Station Fig. 20 Elevations Fig. 21 Power Station Geology (Plan and Sections) Fig. 22 Typical Diagrammatic Arrangement Fig. 23 Photographs of Yallourn 'W' Power Station Fig. 24 Typical Cooling Water Diagram Fig. 25 Diagrammatic Layout of 500 kV and 66 kV Systems Fig. 26 Transmission Lines Fig. 27 Proposed Water Supply Scheme 'A' Fig. 28 Proposed Water Supply Scheme 'B' Fig. 29 Road Access Fig. 30 Environmental Factors Fig. 31 Heat Balance Diagram Fig. 32 Diagram of Liquid Wastes Fig. 33 Liquid Waste Disposal System Fig. 34 Ash Effluent Pipeline Route Fig. 35 Facilities Affected in Project Area Fig. 36 Electricity Load Forecasting Flow Diagram Fig. 37 Victorian Brown Coal Deposits Fig. 38 Alter-native Open Cuts with Major Diversion of Morwell River Fig. 39 Flynn 4000 MW Project Fig. 40 Maryvale 4000 MW Project with Major Diversion of Morwell River Fig. 41 Narracan 4000 MW Project with Major Diversion of Morwell River STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA

REPORT OF ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER (DEVELOPMENT) (MR J JOHNSON BSc(Hons), ACGI, FIE(Aust), MIEE, MIEEE)

ON PROPOSED LOY YANG PROJECT

1 INTRODUCTION The proposed development is on a scale which 1.1 General will take full advantage of past policies which To meet the future load growth on the Commis­ had called for a deferment of the opening up of sion's interconnected system, it will be necess­ this large and favourably situated coalfield until ary to install further generating plant, to come the Commission's system was large enough to into service in the early 1980's, following the accept plant of the larger unit sizes needed to completion of Stage 2 of Yallourn W. realise its potential and to return the full benefits of economies of scale. The Loy Yang and adjoining Flynn coalfields have the poten­ This report recommends that the base load tial for economic development of electricity component of this expansion be met by a generation to a level of some 10 000- 12 000 development based on the Lay Yang coalfield, MW. in the Latrobe Valley, south-east of the city of Traralgon. Peak and intermediate plant will also be required to supplement this base load capacity and existing and further proposals will 1.2 The Proposal be developed to meet this need. The selection of Loy Yang as the site for the next stage of expansion of the Commission's base load generating capability was made after lt is almost certain that a significant proportion a detailed consideration ofthe possible alterna­ of future peaking plant will be in the form of tives of nuclear, oil, gas and black-coal-fired pumped storage hydro generation, which will plant, and of other brown coalfields in the require significant amounts of base load energy Latrobe Valley. in the pumping mode, and these requirements have been factored into the program of base load supplementation. However, it has been These studies, which are considered later in assumed that the plant purchased for the 1000 this report, showed that the Loy Yang project MW gas fired station, already approved and in had clear advantages over the other alterna­ process of manufacture, will be brought into tives in respect of comparative economics, op­ service, and it is noted that it will not be prac­ timum resource usage, a favourable infrastruc­ ticable to accelerate the program of new base ture and a minimal impact on the environment, load plant and pumped storage to substitute for and led to Loy Yang being nominated as the this station in the early 1980's. preferred proposal for this next step of plant ex­ pansion. Currently, some 85% of the electricity used in Victoria is generated in the power stations in the Latrobe Valley. The recommendation for the Investigations to determine the optimum form Lay Yang development will result in the State's and location of the new power project were car­ electricity supplies continuing to be firmly ried out over a number of years and culminated based on the substantial indigenous resource in the selection of the 4000 MW complex com­ of Victoria's own brown coal deposits. These prising two brown-coal-fired power stations. deposits are of such magnitude that they have Each power station is planned to have a the potential for electricity generation and other capacity of 2000 MW made up of four 500 MW uses well into the next century. units, and commercial service of the first 500 MW unit is programmed for early 1983.

The recommendation proposes the opening up of the Lay Yang coalfields, the largest single An artist's impression of the Lay Yang project is fully proven coal deposit in the Latrobe Valley, shown in Figure 1. The general layout of the and the construction of two brown-coal-fuelled proposed undertaking, comprising a new open power stations with a total installed capacity of cut, two power stations, transmission and other 4000 MW, somewhat greater than the present associated works, is shown in Figure 2, and a installed andapproved capacity of the whole of large scale model of the project is illustrated in the current Latrobe Valley complex. Figure 3.

11 a

LOY YANG PROJECT ARTISTS IMPRESSION FIG.

With an undertaking of this magnitude there is Matters pertinent to the formation of the Loy a particular need for the proposal to be exposed Yang proposals are dealt with in this report to public review before the project can be under the following headings: deemed to be completely viable. To this end, in February 1974, the Commission submitted to • The description of the project including the the Minister for Fuel and Power a preliminary open cut, overburden dump, power sta­ report on the proposed 4000 MW Loy Yang pro­ tions, cooling water system , and services. ject and sought a review of the proposal by a public inquiry which was entrusted to the • The proposed program for installation of Parliamentary Public Works Committee. generating pi ant. Following public hearings conducted within • The effects on the environment of dis­ the period from December 1974 to December charges to air, water, and land, and of noise 1975, the Parliamentary Public Works Commit­ at the boundaries of the project. tee endorsed the Commission's proposals for Loy Yang. • The investigations leading to the selection For the purposes of the inquiry, it w as necess­ of Loy Yang as the recommended project, ary for the Commission to submit very com­ including the choice of fuels, unit sizes, prehensive documentation, covering matters of cooling water systems, resource usage, sit­ resource usage, station layout and perfor­ ing, etc. mance, open cut development, water require­ ments, discharges to air, water and land, noise • The associated transmission system expan­ and other environmental effects, as well as giv­ sion required to bring the power to the load ing details of the alternatives studied in the centres. selection of the preferred project. There was also a substantial measure of information pre­ • Consultations with other bodies. sented by a wide range of interests, ranging from statutory authorities to private individuals. • The findings of the Parliamentary Public As a result, we believe that there has been an Works Committee. effective measure of public participation in the review c;>f the project and that all relevant fac­ • Estimates of costs of the project and of the tors have been considered. electricity sent out.

12 •

PROPOSED LOY YANG PROJECT GENERAL LAYOUT FIG. 2

VIEW L OOKING SOUTH- WEST

V IEW LOOKING NORTH-EAST MODEL OF LOY YANG PRO J ECT - 4000 MW FIG. 3

13 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE LOY YANG • water cooling towers; PROJECT 2.1 General • water settling and retention ponds; The Loy Yang project is a long-term develop­ • the dump for disposal of initial overburden ment to progressively meet the increased de­ from the open cut; mand for base load electricity in Victoria up to 1992. The actual rate of development will be • ash pond; determined by the actual growth in demand, but it is implicit in the proposal that authorisation • fire service reservoir. be given for a development of adequate size to warrant the substantial initial capital invest­ Some other works for Loy Yang are outside the ment entailed in establishing a new open cut. project area and these include -

The main features of Loy Yang are - • transmission lines;

• the A power station of 2000 MW capacity • water storages and pipelines; which is currently planned to come into • roads for access to the site; commercial service between 1983 and 1988; • treated ash effluent pipeline to the ocean. • the B power station of 2000 MW capacity which is currently planned to come into 2.2 Land commercial service between 1989 and The project is located 7 km south east of the 1992; city of Traralgon, some 160 km south east of • the open cut for extraction of brown coal Melbourne, as shown in Figure 4. The site is fuel for the power stations; gently undulating country which is primarily used for grazing purposes. The area has no • the 500kV switchgear associated with each high density development and generally con­ power station. sists of large land holdings with few houses or other buildings. A recent aerial view of the pro­ Associated with the power stations and open ject area looking north over the site, indicating cut are other features within the project area the type of countryside and present land use, is such as- shown in Figure 5.

CEMTMAL GtPPSlAHD REGIOHAL IOOtcOARY

BASS STRAIT

SCALE PROPOSED LOY YANG PROJECT 15 0 1!1 30 45 LOCALITY PLAN -- k!LONETRES SOUTH EASTERN VICTORIA FIG. I.

14 LOY YAN G PROJECT AR E A AERIAL VI EW LOOKI NG NORTH OV ER SITE FIG.5

About 80% of the area required for Loy Yang, of coal in the Latrobe Valley. The coalfield including the proposed open cut site, is cur­ covers an area of some 120 km 2 and extends rently zoned Agricultural 8 in which production from west of the Traralgon Creek eastwards to of power and fuel and associated industries are beyond Flynn's Creek as shown in Figure 8. permitted uses. The remaining area is generally zoned Agricultural A, with a number of smaller The most favourable section occurs as a large zonings such as Public Purpose, Road, River block, between Traralgon and Flynn's Creeks, and Stream Reserves. The existing land zon­ some 13 km long and 4 km wide. Within this ings under the Latrobe Valley Sub-Regional block the readily winnable coal reserves, totall­ Planning Scheme 1949 and the City of Tra­ ing some 2800 million tonnes, are adequate to ralgon Planning Scheme, covering the project support 10 000 MW to 12 000 MW of generating area and its immediate surroundings, are plant over its operating life. shown in Figure 6. In addition, some 600 million tonnes of coal oc­ The total area required for the Loy Yang project cur under the Traralgon and Flynn's Creek is about 4700 hectares. External easements for valleys. Marginally economic coal, amounting transmission lines and pipelines will require to a further 1300 million tonnes, occurs under another 300 hectares. The Order in Council of increasing thickness of overburden to the 23 April1974 authorised the Commission to ac­ north, east and west of the main deposits. quire land for the project and, to December 1975, 1954 hectares has been purchased. The coal deposits and the area covered by the Figure 7 shows the land required for the coalfield are so great that it will be necessary to establishment and initial operation together win the available coal reserves from more than with that for the later development of the pro­ one open cut. Studies identify two major open ject. cut sites, that fs , Loy Yang and Flynn, with the boundaries defined by the geological features The project area incorporates a buffer zone to to the south and by practical limits of coal w in­ provide a transition between the Commission ning jn other areas, as shown in Figure 9. activities and those in the surrounding areas. Land in the buffer zone outside the works area Extensive investigations indicate that the Loy will be leased for continuation of farming or for Yang open cut, extending from Traralgon public use. Creek to Sheepwash Creek, is the preferred site for the initial development of the coal field. The 2.3 Open Cut Loy Yang open cut site has been selected after 2.3.1 General consideration of coal seam thickness, coal to The Loy Yang field, located south-east of the overburden ratio, coal quality and minimum in­ City of Traralgon, contains the largest deposit terference to local environment. The open cut

15 AGRICULTURAL A

AGRICULTIJAAI. 8

TRARA\.GON PlANNtNG SCHEME 1~57

80li40.A.RY OF 4COOMW DEVELOPMENT

fUVEAS AND STM:AMS .'JI REsERVE ~

5GO 1000 tSOO 2000 HE TRES t

N LOY YANG PROJ LAND ZONING

FIG. 6

PROCLAIMED LAND REQUIRED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND INITIAL OPERATION OF THE PROJECT (ORDER IN COUNCIL OIITE D 13/4/74)

ADDITIONAL LAND REQUIRED FOR LATER DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT.

tN

0

KILCl'IETRES

LOY YANG PROJECT LAND ACQUISITION

FIG. 7

16 development will allow the later option to exposed the base of the lowest coal seam in the recover other less favourable coal reserves sequence. such as those beneath the Traralgon Creek valley to the west and the deeper coal seams to The main coal seams in the area are identified, the north. in the order of deposition, as the Traralgon, Morwell 2, Morwell 18, Morwell 1A and Alternative locations for an initial overburden Yallourn seams as shown in the plan and sec­ dump external to the open cut have been in­ tions in Figure 11. The coal seams extend to vestigated and the preferred site is located in a more than 300 m below ground surface and wide flat valley, extending easterly from the those to be won within the open cut site are Traralgon Creek Road over the Callignee South separated by layers of interseam sediments of Road immediately to the south of the power sta­ up to 15 m in thickness. A geological plan of the tion sites. The overburden dump site is shown area with the overburden sediments removed in Figure 10. and indicating the outcrops of the various coal seams is shown in Figure 12. Although this dump will overlie a small area of marginally recoverable coal, it will be ideally The overburden covering the coal varies in situated close to the Loy Yang open cut result­ thickness from 8 to 25 m and consists of ing in significant economic advantages and will geologically much younger clays, silts, sands create less interference to the local environ­ and gravel. ment than more distant alternative sites. 2.3.3 Coal Quality 2.3.2 Geology The major coal quality factors which affect the The subsurface geology of the Loy Yang design and operation of large boiler plant in­ coalfield has been established by a com­ stallations are moisture and ash content, as prehensive drilling program carried out over well as various ash constituents and fouling the past 30 years. characteristics.

The coal deposits occur as a series of thick The weighted average moisture content of the seams separated by sands and clays. The coal coal in the open cut area, as obtained from drill seams have been folded by earth movements samples, is calculated to be about 63%. The and, in the area of the coalfield, the beds dip to moisture contents of the Morwell 2, 1A and 1B the north with strong monoclinal folds limiting seams vary between 59% and 66%. The coal winning -development to the east and moisture content of the younger Yallourn coal north-east. To the south of the field, the seams seam, which overlies the northern fringe of the successively cut out against an elongated Loy Yang open cut site, ranges from 60% to dome- a structure where subsequent erosion 67%.

LEGEND CiTIES & TONNSHIPS BOUHDAA'I' OF HAIH COAL RESERV£5 t~~~S~E::::INAL ~ !NVESTIGATEO EXISTING POWER STATION 0 t I(!LCitETRES '""'"' LATROBE VAt.LEY MAIN COALFIELDS AREA PLAN FIG. 8

17 LEGE NO CITIES .u.!O TONNSHJPS BOUNOARY (11 NAIN COAL RES EAVES

EXISTING POWER STATIONS •

EXISTING OPEN CUTS t

CUTS LOY YANG COALFIELD AND OPEN CUTS

265000

261.000

263000

0 0

250000

f

FIG. 10

18 s.

s.

LOY YANG AREA GWLOGICAL SECTIONS

FIG.11

The average ash con-tent for the Loy Yang open Figures 15 to 17 indicate the progressive cut area, measured on a dry basis, is about development of the open cut at significant 1.4%, but it can vary from about 0.5% to 4.0%. stages approximating the years 1990, 2005 and The analysis of various ash constituents in the 2020. The plans show the operating faces for Loy Yang open cut site is shown later in sub­ the coal winning and overburden removal as section 2.4.5. well as the disposal of overburden in external and internal dumps. The ash content varies over the area, in each seam, as well as between the various coal Figure 15 shows the open cut development 111 seams. The distribution of the low and moder­ 1990 when the overburden face reachr;;s the ate to high ranges of ash content in the Loy northern boundary of the open cut at the edge Yang coalfield is shown in Figure 13. The major of the Yallourn coal seam. At this stage, the part of the Loy Yang open cut area contP>ins open cut will progress in an easterly direction uniformly low values of ash content, but the along the boundary of the Morwell 1A and Yallourn seam coal and the underlying Morwell Yallourn seams towards Sheepwash Creek. 1A and 1B seams along the northern fringe have higher ash levels. The Morwell 2 seam is the lowest seam to be excavated. The base of this seam, which is ap­ proximately 200m below the ground surface, at 2.3.4 Development the northern boundary of the open cut is The open cut, as shown in Figure 10, has an reached by about 1995. At that time the over­ area of some 1100 hectares and contains some burden face has turned at right angles and pro­ 1000 million tonnes of coal reserves necessary ceeded in a no'rth-easterly direction. As suffi­ to provide 30 years of operation for 4000 MW of cient area becomes available in the bottom of generating plant. the open cut, an internal dump for the disposal of overburden will be established. The open cut outlet will be located near the mid point of the southern boundary along the The eastern limit of the open cut will be reached southern geological limit of the seams. The in­ some 10 years later, by 2005, as shown in itial development of the open cut will extend Figure 16. Figure 17 shows the final stage of the northwards to the boundary of the Morwell 1A development of the open cut for the 4000 MW and Yallourn coal seams with the western face project after the operating faces have turned located along the edge of the Traralgon Creek ag.ain at right angles and retreated in a south­ valley. Figure 14 shows an early development of westerly direction to the southern boundary of the open cut approximating the year 1985. the coalfield.

19 LEGENO N YAt.LOURN SEAM ~ MORWEL.L. 1.4 '"'" J;ITY--- MORWELL 18 SEAM HORWELL 2 SEAM c ~ TRARALGON SEAH

EA GEOLOGY PLAN SEDIMENTS REMOVED FIG.12

200 0 500 1000 1500 2000 METRES

n..._ LOY YANG POWER t:;::j Q:oSTA TIONS

A G FOULING INOEX VALUES 8 NOT KNOWN IN THIS AREA

AREA OF COAL WITH LOW ASH CONTENT m LOY YANG COALFIELD AREA OF COAL WITH MOIERATE ASH DISTRIBUTION :::::::::J TO HIGH ASH CONTENT FIG. 13

20 When the overburden race reaches the bound­ A fourth dredger wi 11 be added to supply the ad­ ary of the Morwell 1A and the Yallourn seams ditional coal requirements of the second 2000 by about 1990, two options to the preferred MW power station and ensure the overall coal scheme will be available for future development supply reliability for the project. of the open cut as follows: Each dredger will be of the bucket wheel type • Extension of the open cut further north to capable of excavating both coal and over­ exploit the available coal reserves, includ­ burden with a rated hourly output of about 3500 ing the Yallourn seam, to a practical limit, tonnes of coal or 2500 m3 overburden. These having regard to depth of open cut, thick­ dredgers will have a capacity approximately ness of overburden and proximity of open twice that of the largest unit jnstalled at cut to the Traralgon township. Yallourn and Morwell open cuts. Each dredger will operate over a depth of approximately 50 m • Extension of the open cut to the west into equivalent to about one-quarter of the max­ the Traralgon Creek valley, requiring the imum depth of the open cut. deviation of portion of the Traralgon Creek.

A decision will need to be made by the The conveyor transport system will use steel mid-1980's on these options. Such a decision cord conveyor belts about 2 m wide, operating will depend on the. factors pertaining at that at a speed of about 5 m/s. The installed con­ time, the experience gained on winning and veyor length will increase as new levels are burning the Loy Yang coal and the need for ad­ opened and operating faces advance away ditional quantities of coal in the area. from the initial opening. Some 20 km of con­ veyors will be eventually installed in the open 2.3.5 Overburden Removal and Disposal cut. Some 215 million m3 of overburden material, in­ cluding interseam sediments, will need to be The conveyors supply coal from .each dredger removed over the life of the open cut. to a coal storage bunker established above the ground surface between the two Loy Yang The steepness of the dip of the coal seams in power stations. The bunker acts as a regulating the open cut will delay for about 18 years, after storage and as an interchange so arranged that the commencement of coal operations, the coal from any incoming conveyor coul~ be sup­ establishment of an overburden dump in the plied to any power station boiler. Studies have bottom of the open cut. During this period some shown that, for the four-dredger system, a 100 million m3 of overburden will need to be dis­ storage of about 100 000 tonnes will be re­ pos~d of external to the open cut. The quired to provide the necessary reliability of progressive developments of both the external coal supply for the 4000 MW project. and internal dumps are shown in Figures 14 to 17. A number of alternative arrangements have been considered for coal storage, but the pro­ The area selected for the external overburden posed covered coal bunker is preferred as it is dump, south of Bartons Lane and the power sta­ less costly, easy to operate and compact in tions, covers an area of 540 hectares. This area. This bunker storage is also favoured on dump will be developed in three levels, each environmental grounds, as it minimises dust with a height of up to 20 m and tapering to meet emissions, unsightly appearance and the fire the natural surface. The external overburden hazard which would be associated with an dump will be shaped to blend into the surround­ alternative open coal storage. ing topography with the thickness of dump material reducing from west to east. Overburden will be transported by conveyor from the working faces to the dump and will be 2.3.6 Plant deposited by a crawler mounted stacker with a The open cut will be developed using a number capacity matched to the output of the of large capacity dredgers with independent dredger /conveyor system. conveyor transport systems. Dredgers will be installed progressively with the first dredger 2.3.7 Associated Works commencing overburden removal in 1980. Two An open cut fire protection system will be in­ dredgers will be in operation by the time the stalled on the established patterns used at first generating unit comes into commercial Yallourn and Morwell with a suitable capacity service in 1983. to wet down the exposed coal areas. Sufficient water storage will be provided in the fire service Three dredgers will be provided to ensure the reservoir to operate the system in emergencies coal supply for the first 2000 MW power station without restrictions for some 72 hours before when the maximum requirements of the station needing to draw from other water supply will amount to some 60 000 tonnes/day. sources in the area. The fire service reservoir of 21 N f

LOY YANG PROJECT OPEN CUT DEVELOPMENT TO YEAR 1985 16 x 105 TONNES

1000 --IMETRES FIG. 14 '------'------~·······--·····------'

N +

LOY YANG PROJB:;T OPEN CUT DEVELOPMENT TO YEAR 1990 6 90 x 10 TONNES COAL

0000 --INETfUS FIG. 15

22 N T

LOY YAN G PROJECT OPEN CUT DEVELOPMENT TO YEAR 2005 600 x 1rf5 TONNES COAL

CONPLE TED YEAR 12000A.D.I 14,t.X_ Rl 145111

1000 --IME TR£$ FIG 16

N T

LOY YANG PROJECT OPEN CUT DEVELOPMENT TO YEAR 2020 6 1000 X 10 TONNES COAL

O'iERBIJroEN DUMP COMPLETED JIUJ(. R.L. 14Sm.

""" --IMETRES FIG.17

23 about 1800 Ml capacity will be located at the car parks, etc, will be provided at convenient east end of the external overburden dump, next locations close to the operations office and the to the ash pond, as shown in Figure 10. main access route to the open cut.

The internal open cut reticulation system for Electrical supply to the open cut will be at 22 kV fire protection and dewatering will be via a 66/22 kV substation located adjacent to progressively extended as the open cut ad­ the open cut outlet. The substation will be sup­ vances. Drainage systems will be established at plied from the 66 kV auxiliary supply, as each level and high capacity pumps will be in­ described later in sub-section 2.5.3. stalled to discharge drainage water into the fire service reservoir. 2.3.8 Buffer Zone The open cut and external overburden dump, West of the external overburden dump a system together with surrounding buffer zones, will re­ of drains, collecting and treatment ponds will quire the progressive acquisition of large areas of land as shown in Figure The total area control run-off and settle 01:1t solids before dis­ 10. charge to streams. provided for the buffer zone is estimated at about 2100 hectares.

Artesian waters occur in aquifers beneath the A buffer zone is provided around the open cut coal seams in the open cut and lowering the and overburden dump to screen operations, pressure in these waters will be necessary to provide a fire protection zone, contain possible control the stability of the open cut. Any signifi­ earth movements and provide working access cant quantity of artesian water resulting from and easements for associated works and ser­ the open cut operations will be used to aug­ vices. This buffer zone will also provide protec­ ment the water supply for the project. tion for the general public from possible dust and noise emissions. lt also provi·des for some An operations office and control centre will be expansion of the open cut to the north, if re­ provided close to the conveyor outlet to monitor quired. and control all open cut operating functions from one central area and provide easy access The buffer zone around the northern boundary into the open cut as shown in Figure 10. Other of the open cut encroaches on the south-east operations depots, stores, amenities buildings, corner of the Traralgon City and it will prevent

OPEN CUT

LOY YANG PROJECT SITE LAYOUT OF LOY YANG "A"&'B' POWER STATIONS AND SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENT

OVERBURDEN DLMP

N o 110 am lOOiolll 500 1000 Ll.L.I ..LI ....LI ~S~C;-;AL';"!E _____,!NET RES FIG. 18

24 residential development occurring in this area. Access to the power station and other associ­ The boundary of the buffer zone could be ated works will be provided via the Traralgon affected by the location of the future by-pass Creek Road and an upgraded interconnecting freeway planned by the Country Roads Board to road from Morwell. the south of the city of Traralgon. Suitable areas will be set aside for car parks, The buffer zone provided would vary from at bus terminals, recreation reserves and a visi­ least 300 m to the south of the overburden dump tors' reception centre as well as easements for to about 1 km between the northern boundary of various services. the open cut and the southern limit of the urban development in the city of Traralgon. The pro­ The total area covered by the two Lay Yang ject boundaries to the east and west of the open power stations, associated transmission and cut provide a buffer zone of at least BOOm from ancillary works, including ash pond, will be the preferred development. approximately 400 hectares. This area will be suitably landscaped to blend with the existing character of the land surrounding the project. 2.4 Power Station 2.4.1 General Arrangement 2.4.2 Number and Size of Units The proposed layout of the two 2000 MW Lay The first 2000 MW power station, Lay Yang A, Yang power stations and their relationships to will consist of four 500 MW generating units. the nearby.open cut, external overburden dump The second power station, also of 2000 MW, and other works in the area are shown in, Figure Lay Yang B, which will be constructed at a later 18. date, will have identical units to the first station as shown in the various project drawings The Lay Yang power stations are located on a accompanying this report. ridge extending eastwards from the Traralgon Creek Road towards Minniedale Road and im­ The Lay Yang A power station will be limited to mediately south of the present Bartons Lane. tour units based on such considerations as sta­ The power stations are located between the tion manning, maintenance, control and the open cut to the north and the overburden dump physical distances between the areas at various to the south. station activities. This accords with modern overseas practice established by operating ex­ The arrangement of the main power station perience. buildings in relation to the boiler chimneys and cooling towers' emissions has been studied, Studies at alternative sizes tor base load using models, in wind tunnel tests at Monash generating units indicate that significant sav­ University. The results of these studies, as well ings could be achieved in capital expenditure. as observations of full scale effects at other and operating costs by the adoption at the power stations, demonstrate that entrainment of largest size unit which could be reliably oper­ chimney and cooling tower plumes into the ated and integrated into the system at a given wake of the power station complex will not time. For the mid-1980's, the Victorian system affect local air quality with the proposed Lay would be able to accept brown coal generating Yang power station layout. units at 500 MW maximum capacity without in­ creasing hazards to the system in the event of Each power station will have a 500 kV unscheduled forced outage of units. switchyard immediately south of the turbine house building from which electrical output will Turbo-generator plant at 500 MW size has been be transmitted to the Hazelwood Terminal Sta­ proved in service in power stations both in tion and thence to the Metropolitan load centre. Australia and overseas over many years and can be expected to give reliable service. The Two 500 kV lines, along separate easements, 500 MW brown-coal-fired boilers are regarded will transmit the output from Lay Yang A power as being entirely feasible in terms o( current station while a third 500 kV line will be required technology having regard to the Commission's for the Lay Yang B power station. Auxiliary sup­ experience gained in burning brown coal in ex­ ply at 66 kV will be transmitted from the Morwell isting power stations in the Latrobe Valley with Terminal Station to a Lay Yang substation. unit boilers of 120, 200 and 350 MW ratings.

Ancillary works required to serve the whole 2.4.3 Layout 4000 MW project such as the gas turbines for The proposed layout for the Lay Yang A power emergency supply, the 66 kV substation and the station showing the arrangement of the main area workshops and stores to serve the 4000 buildings is shown in Figure 19 and the south­ MW project are located between the Lay Yang west and north-west elevations are shown in A and B power stations. Figure 20.

25 CAR PARK \

GAS TURBINES

••• HEATER••• PAECIPITATOR....

FURNACE D BOILER HOUSE

CAR PARK 500 KV SWITCHYARD

0 100 !..... I LOY YANG PROJECT SCALE METRES LAYOUT FOR 2000MW 'A" POWER STATION FIG. 19

A r- r- r-· ' r-

~CH114NEYS~ ..---

COOLING COOLING ,------, TOWER TOWER

BOILER HOUSE BOILER HOUSE

TURBINE HOUSE nsGAS / in .. ~n Jn-, I~ ""' .__A "In J \ SOUTH WEST ELEVATION LOY YANG A POWER STATION 4 X 500 MW ELEVATIONS

COOLING,------, ,------,COOLING TOWER TOWER

0 50 100 150 HE'mES -...... : ..... 1ww I HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL SCALE

FIG. 20

26 The turbine house building is about 400 m long 2.4.4 Geology by 55 m wide (including the electrical annexe). The sites chosen for the Loy Yang A and 8 The height of the turbine house will be nearly power stations are on the Loy Yang dome, the 40 m. The main generator transformers will be dominant geological feature in the area. The located outside the southern wall of the turbine east-west axis of the dome is approximately house. parallel to the present Bartons Lane and Figure 21 shows the geological plan and sections of The boiler house buildings for each stage of the power station sites. two units will be about 110 m high and cover an area of some 135 m by 70 m. A similar area, to The A station site, with a formation level of the north of the boiler house, will be occupied 110 m, will be located over a wedge of Tra­ by the draft plant, together with the dust collect­ ralgon seam coal varying in thickness from ing plant, which incorporates the electrostatic about 5 to 25 m. In this area the Traralgon seam dust precipitators. A single chimney is provided is overlain by a cover of some 25 m of over­ for each boiler. burden material composed mainly of silty clays, sandy clays and sands. The Traralgon seam is Each power station will be served by four underlain by sands, clays and some minor coal natural draft cooling towers with two towers lo­ seams. cated at each end of the station. Each cooling tower will be approximately 120 m high. Foundation drilling and testing carried out at Loy Yang confirm that the sites selected are The administration, amenities, control room suitable tor location of the power stations. and ancillary services such as laboratory, water treatment plant, etc, will be centrally located 2.4.5 Fuel Supply and Characteriatlca between the two stages north of the turbine Coal Supply for the Loy Yang power stations house. A visitors' centre will be located at the will be taken from the coal storage bunker lo­ entrance to the project on the west side of the cated between the two stations as shown in Loy Yang A power station. Figure 10. The coal will be passed through crushing stations and transported by rising The architecture of the power station buildings conveyors to the boiler bunkers. and the whole station complex will offer a plea­ sant appearance and create an aesthetic Each boiler will consume approximately 600 balance for the whole scheme. tonnes of coal per hour and have an inbuilt

340 S, Cl -SILlY CLAY Si Sc-S.IL.TY SAND SECTION A -A Se Si -SANDY SILT METRES 100 ""' NOTE CEHTREUNE CF Cl Se-CLAYEY !.AND COOUHG TOWERS IC.T} _, H2 - NORWELL 2 !COAL SEAMl Tr - TRARALGDt.U COAL SEAH) 1119 - BORE HUMBER YEJtT"' ""' ·-· 0 - COOUHG TOWERS

5

HORIZ "' 100 VERT

LOY YANG PROJECT POWER STATrON GEOLOGY SECTION C-C PLAN & SECTIONS FIG. 21

27 bunker storage of about 3000 tonnes. The max­ Each boiler will burn pulverised brown coal imum coal requirements for each 2000 MW sta­ using an auxiliary fuel for start-up and flame tion will amount to about 58 000 tonnes for a stabilisation. A number of fuels are available for winter weekday, and to approximately 18 auxiliary firing and the final choice will not million tonnes pa, assuming an average annual affect the economics of the project. capacity factor of about 80%. The coal needed for the Loy Yang A station for a 30-year operat­ The annual consumptions of the alternative ing life is estimated at some 500 million tonnes. auxiliary fuels for a 4000 MW project are esti­ mated at about 50 000 tonnes of fuel oil, 60 x 106 Table 1 contains the analysis of the Loy Yang Nm 3 of natural gas or 100 000 tonnes of bri­ coal, showing the weighted average for the quettes or dried brown coal. whole open cut site and the range of variation for moisture, heat value and the main consti­ tuents of coal I ikely to be encountered for about 2.4.6 Plant 90% of the time. A typical diagrammatic arrangement of a large brown-coal-fired power station, showing the flow of fuel, steam, water and gases, is indi­ TABLE 1 cated in Figure 22. LOY YANG COAL CHARACTERISTICS ANALYSIS OF BORE-HOLE SAMPLES The boiler plant will be designed to burn ITEM WEIGHTED RANGE OF pulverised brown coal over a range of qualities AVERAGE VARIATION likely to be encountered in the Loy Yang open (All Coal (5% to 95% cut, as indicated in Tables 1 and 2. The coal Seams) Probability) Moisture(% Wet Coal) 62.6 58.8-65.6 characteristics such as moisture and ash con­ Net Wet Heat Value tent, as well as ash constituents, will affect the (kJ/kg Wet Coal) 8000 7000-9000 design of various plant items such as the coal Gross Dry Heat Value Ash handling equipment, mill and firig system, Free (kJ/kg Dry Coal) 27000 25 700 - 28 000 forced and induced draft systems, ashing plant, Carbon (% Dry Coal) 68.4 65.3-70.3 Oxygen (% Dry Coal by including precipitators, etc. difference) 24.3 Not available Hydrogen(% Dry Coal) 4.9 4.5- 5.1 Dust extraction, including electrostatic pre­ Nitrogen (% Dry Coal) 0.5 0.5-0.6 cipitator plant, will be installed to remove the Sulphur(% Dry Coal) 0.4 0.2-0.7 particles of ash and dust from the boiler flue Chlorine(% Dry Coal) 0.1 0-0.4 Ash (% Dry Coal) 1.4 0.6- 3.4 gases. This plant will control emissions to meet Similarly, Table 2 shows the weighted average air quality standards prescribed by the Environ­ and upper limit for the main inorganic consti­ ment Protection Authority. tuents in the ash. Provision will be made for the later addition of sootblowers, mechanical dust separation plant TABLE2 and other facilities which may need to be in­ LOY YANG COAL: ASH ANALYSIS stalled should a decision be made to utilise the ANALYSIS OF BORE-HOLE SAMPLES low quality Yallourn seam and underlying Mor­ ITEM PERCENTAGE DRY COAL well coal seams in the northern fringe of the Weighted Upper Loy Yang open cut site when coal extraction Average Limit reaches this area. (All Coal (95% Probability) Seams) Investigations are continuing into possible Inorganic Constituents of Ash alternative arrangements of either one chimney Silica (Si02l for each boiler or one chimney for each pair of (%Dry Coal) 0.34 1.43 boilers. lt is expected that chimneys in the Alumina (AI203) range of 200 m to 260 m high would be required (%Dry Coal) 0.38 1.32 Iron Oxides (Fe203) to effectively disperse the chimney emissions (%Dry Coal) 0.19 0.37 and meet the air quality standards. In this report Calcium Oxide (CaO) a single chimney, about 260 m high, is postul­ (%Dry Coal) 0.06 0.17 ated for each boiler. Magnesium Oxide (MgO) (%Dry Coal) 0.13 0.28 The height of the chimney, together with the Sodium Oxide )Na~ (%Dry Coal) 0.15 0.35 exit velocity of the flue gases and the effect of thermal buoyancy, will eject the gases high into NOTE: Ash constituents not listed comprise the atmosphere. Thus, the chimney emissions mainly sulphur trioxide (S03) and small will be dispersed over a wide area, be substan­ amounts of chlorine with traces of tially diluted and any adverse effects on air titanium, potassium and manganese. quality at ground level minimised.

28 STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA

STEAM COAL CONVEYOR TO FROM OPEN CUT

ROTARY AIR HEATER

CHIMNEY

DE -AERAlOR t

NATURAL DRAUGHT COOLING TOWER DUST TURBO GEN ERATOR ~

FEED-WATER PUMP FLY ASH REMOVAL CIRCULATING PUMP WATER PUMP

POWER STATION TYPICAL DIAGRAMMATIC ARRANGEMENT FIG.22

The turbo-generators will follow established earth movements resulting from open cut overseas design practices and will take advan­ operations. tage of the technological developments at the time of ordering plant. Mechanical draft cooling towers have been re­ jected on both economic and environmental •. Steam conditions similar to those for Yallourn grounds. They would have higher operating W Stage 2 plant are proposed, that is, a nominal costs, lower cooling efficiency, greater car­ gauge pressure of 16.3 MPa at the turbine stop ryover of water droplets and possibly some un­ valves with initial and reheat steam tem­ desirable effects at ground level. peratures of 538°C in order to take full advan­ tage of proven experience elsewhere in the Dry cooling towers have been investigated world and achieve efficient coal resource because they would not require make-up water utilisation. or discharge visible vapour plumes. They would be more expensive than wet cooling Figure 23 shows photographs of some large towers because of higher capital and operating plant items for the 350 MW unit currently in costs and would be less reliable in operation. A operation at Yallourn W. detailed comparison between the natural draft and dry cooling towers was submitted to the Each generator will have its own step-up, 500 Latrobe River Water Resources Inquiry in the kV transformer, located just outside the turbine Commission's supplementary evidence in house. November 1973 in relation to the forecast of consumptive water requirements for the SEC's The power station plant will be operated from a Latrobe Valley power stations. control room servicing the four generating units and located centrally in the station. The proposed method for the collection and disposal of the ash wastes resulting from the The cooling water for the main condenser and combustion of the brown coal is based on a auxiliary coolers will be recycled in a closed non-recirculating, hydraulic system. Fly ash circuit through natural draft cooling towers, as collected from the boiler flue gases, together shown in a diagrammatic arrangement in with furnace ash from the furnace bottom and Figure 24. In this system the warm water is the ash wastes from the boiler cleaning, will be pumped to a water spray conduit inside the pumped to the ash pond at the east end of the tower at a level above the air intake and allowed overburden dump, as shown in Figure 10. The to trickle down through a packing material such disposal of the effluent from the ash pond away as asbestos cement. Cooling occurs as the from the site is discussed later in Section 3.3 of water descends through a rising stream of air this report. with the tower structure assisting the updraft of air currents. Alternative methods for handling and disposal of ash such as a part hydraulic and part dry One natural draft tower will be provided for system, as well as a fully hydraulic recirculating each 500 MW generating unit, but pairs of scheme, have been considered. The proposed towers will be interconnected to obtain flex­ once-through fully hydraulic system will be ibility in operation. Each tower will be approx­ comparable in costs with other alternatives, but imately 120 m high and vary in diameter from was adopted because of ease of operation and about 90 m at the base to 60 m at the top. maintenance, reduced concentration of dis­ solved solids in the ash effluent and the dis­ The make-up water for the cooling towers re­ posal of the effluent away from the site. quired to offset evaporation and spray losses and to maintain an acceptable water quality in Stormwater and miscellaneous water effluents the recirculating system will be obtained from resulting from the operation of the power sta­ the water supply described later in Section 2.6 tion, open cut and overburden dump will be col­ of this report. lected and, after some re-use and treatment in a number of settling ponds, will be discharged Alternative cooling water systems such as cool­ into the local streams. The disposal of these ing ponds, mechanical draft and dry cooling effluents is described in detail in Section 3.3 of towers have been investigated. this report.

Studies show that the large natural draft cool­ 2.5 Transmission ing towers proposed at Loy Yang are preferable 2.5.1 Switchyard to a cooli~g pond. The cooling towers will re­ quire less land and will be marginally cheaper Figure 25 shows the diagrammatic arrange­ than the cooling pond works which include a ment of the transmission works at Loy Yang and dam which would require special measures to the connection to the Hazelwood Terminal Sta­ ensure security in an area subject to possible tion.

29 PULVERISED F UEL MI LLS INDUC ED DRAUGHT FAN

·' ...... ~ ~...... , .. \·r

CHIMNEY AND PRECIPITATOAS TURBINE HALL

YALLOURN W POWER STATION STAGE 1 FIG 23

EVAPORATION ANO \.., DRIFT LOSS V COOLING WATER RE TURN \~, · !:t ~ \ ( i TER •••b .• t ~ ' .. ; '/ ) ft ( COOLING TOWER CONDENSERS

\J \ASBC£MENESTT PACICSOS // COLD AIR '\1\Tf./ DRAUGHT COORLAOU~I~T~ ' I COOliHG . - WATER -- --- COOLED W.UE COOLING TOW ER POND MAKE-U p

COQLING TOWER PURG E WATER FOR '- COOLING ALL r--- AUX ILIARIES

DIAGRAM SHOWING TYPICAL COOLING WATER SYSTEM FIG. 21.

30 OPEN CUT SUBSTATION 2-500kV LINES 10 MELBOURNE

tI 'I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I J

DIAGRAMMATIC LAYOUT OF ---NEW 500 kV LINES 500kV AND 66kV SYSTEMS -- -- EXISTING 500kV LINES FOR THE LOY YANG 4000MW DEVELOPMENT

FIG. 25

A separate 500 kV switchyard of conventional Overhead lines are the only economic method outdoor type will be provided for each station of power transmission at the 500 kV level. The and these will be connected to each other by estimated cost of underground transmission at 500 kV overhead transmission lines. The this voltage is over 40 times the cost of conven­ switchyard will comprise duplicate bus bars to tional overhead construction. which the generating units, via step-up transformers, and the outgoing 500 kV lines are To increase the reliability against possible connected. Each switchyard will occupy an hazards, such as bush and grass fires, the three area some 400 m by 250 m. 500 kV lines between the Loy Yang stations and the Hazelwood Terminal Station will be located Power flow from the generators, through the in two separate easements as shown in Figure transformers, will be controlled in each 26. switchyard by 500 kV air-blast circuit breakers. For increased reliability some of the incoming and outgoing transmission circuits will be pro­ The width of the transmission line easement vided with two circuit breakers. containing' the two 500 kV lines will be about 90 m and the width of the easement containing The outgoing 500 kV lines to Hazelwood Ter­ the thin:! 500 kV line, together with the 66 kV minal Station (HWTS) will depart from struc­ auxiliary supply line, will be about 65 m. The tures located in the centre of each switchyard, lengths of the 500 kV line easements between some 26 m high, to provide the necessary the Loy Yang power stations and the Hazel­ electrical clearances. wood Terminal Station will be approx~mately 13 km. The switchyards wi 11 be remotely controlled from the Latrobe Valley Control Centre. In determining the location of the transmission 2.5.2 Transmission Lines line easements, consideration would be given In order to provide adequate capacity and to topography, land use, access, interference reliability, three 500 kV lines will be required with other facilities and visual impact. The pro­ from the two Loy Yang power stations to the posed easement routes at Loy )'ang will have Hazelwood l:erminal Station. A line will be in­ little effect on the use of land for grazing and stalled with each of the first two 500 MW units at agriculture which comprises some 80% of the Loy Yang A station, while the third line will be land required. The remainder of the land is installed with the first 500 MW unit at Loy Yang used by Australian Paper Manufacturers (APM) B station. for pine plantations.

31 Although not part of the project for which ap­ A further back-up to the 66 kV substation will be proval is now requested, Loy Yang will necessi­ obtained from two gas turbine generators, each tate augmentation of the existing 500 kV of 25 MW capacity, to be installed in conjunc­ transmission system between HWTS and tion with the Loy Yang A power station. The gas Melbourne. This system at present comprises turbine generators will be large enough to start two 500 kV lines which operate in parallel with two 500 MW units simultaneously in the event a 220 kV system. A third 500 kV line will be re­ of an outage following a severe transmission quired for the commissioning of the first Lay system disturbance. For both technical and en­ Yang unit and a fourth line will be needed vironmental reasons, the 66 kV substation will before the service of the final unit of A station. A be of an indoor construction and 66 kV lines in fifth line will be required to be installed with the Loy Yang works area would be installed un­ service of the second unit of B station and this derground as required. Power supply to the will satisfy the total transmission requirements open cut will be obtained from the 66 kV for both A and B stations. For the purpose of substation. security of the transmission system the 5-500 kV lines will be spread over 2 easements. 2.6 Water Supply 2.6.1 General 2.5.3 Auxiliary Supply The required fresh water resources for develop­ Power for the auxiliaries of the main power sta­ ment of the Loy Yang project will be available tion units will be normally supplied from unit from the existing SEC entitlements from the transformers connected between the genera­ regulated output of the Tyers River, ground­ tors and the 500 kV step-up transformers, as water at Morwell and future regulation of shown in Figure 25. A separate 66 kV auxiliary Gippsland streams. supply will be provided which will normally be used for various auxiliary services common to the power station as a whole. The 66 kV auxili­ 2.6.2 Water Requirements ary supply will provide an alternative source of The water requirements for the Loy Yang pro­ power for emergency start-up purposes. ject can be segregated into low and high quality water. The 66 kV auxiliary supply will be obtained from the Lay Yang substation which, in turn, will be The major water requirements of the project will supplied from the Morwell Terminal Station via be for low quality water and include make-up two 66 kV lines installed on separate routes for water in the condenser cooling system as well increased reliability as shown in Figure 26. as water to purge cooling towers and prevent

IOLCJ-IETRE$ NORTHt

LOY YANG PROJECT TRANSMISSION LINES FIG. 26

32 an excessive build-up of salts, for boiler clean­ Consideration will be given to the use of any ar­ ing, ash sluicing, power station wash-down, tesian water, resulting from open cut opera­ fire prevention spraying in the open cut, etc. A tions at Lay Yang, as an additional source of relatively small quantity of high quality water low quality water for the project. will be needed for boiler make-up, drinking, showers, toilets and other domestic uses in the project area.

2.6.4 Latrobe River Water While it is expected that artesian water from The low quality water supplied to the project Morwell will be able to meet the demand for low will be partly consumed in evaporative loss in quality water in the early years of the Lay Yang the condenser cooling system, partly reclaimed development, most of the demand for low and treated on site before returning to the local quality water for the complete development river system and partly disposed of directly to could only be economically met from surface the sea. water in the Latrobe River catchment.

The description of the liquid effluents is A major water storage on the Latrobe River covered later in Section 3.3 of this report. system or other stream would provide a regul­ ated supply of water for the developing Lay The water requirements for the project will vary Yang scheme. If insufficient artesian water is with the quality of the water supply and the cri­ available from the Morwell open cut to supply teria for the discharge of waste effluents. In this the needs of the first two units, such a storage regard the main quality characteristic will be may be needed at the start of the development. the level to which dissolved solids in the water can be increased as a result of evaporation in the cooling water system. From the Commis­ Since such a storage dam could be built in sion's point of view, the limit of dissolved solids three summer seasons (provided plans and in cooling water within the project is deter­ specifications are prepared in advance) the mined from a consideration of scale deposit in quantity of artesian water can be reviewed in both the heat exchangers and the condensers. 1979, three years before the commissioning of the first Lay Yang generating unit. At that time a decision will need to be made on whether the The Commission's submissions to the Parlia­ dam construction should commence or be mentary Public Works Committee Inquiry on deferred. However, a decision on the location Latrobe River Water Resources in December and size of this water storage will need to be 1972 and November 1973 dealt at length with made well in advance of 1979 to ensure that the water requirements for power generation in designs are available by this date. the Latrobe Valley up to the year 2000. The water requirements for the Lay Yang project are shown in Table 3. lt is recognised that the regulating storage will be required for a number of uses, and thus the capital cost should not be borne by the SEC as 2.6.3 Artesian Water part of the Lay Yang project. The quantity of artesian water being pumped to maintain the stability of the Morwell open cut is at present in the order of 1200 1/s and it is esti­ 2.6.5 Quantities for Alternative Water Supply mated that this quantity could increase to 1500 Schemes 1/s as the open cut develops. This artesian The low quality water requirements fQr the Lay water is discharged into the Hazelwood cooling Yang project, based on the use of Latrobe River pond. The proposed water supply scheme for water below the Yallourn dam, with and without the Lay Yang project would use some 900 1/s the addition of artesian water from the Morwell from this cooling pond which will be sufficient open cut, are shown as Schemes A and 8 in to supply the low quality water needs of the first Table 3. The table also shows the high quality two sets at Lay Yang. water requirements using the supply from the present Latrobe Valley Water and Sewerage Investigations are being carried out by the Board (LVW&SB) water system which is based Commission to determine the likely long-term on the Tyers River at Moondarra. The two alter­ quantity and quality of the artesian water re­ native water supply schemes proposed to meet quired to be pumped from the Morwell open cut the water requirements are shown in Figwes 27 during coal-winning operations. and 28.

33 TABLE3 ESTIMATED AVERAGE WATER REQUIREMENTS MEGALITRES PER ANNUM (MI/a)

SCHEME A- Using Latrobe River Water and Some Water from the Hazelwood Cooling Pond (including Artesian Water from Morwell Open Cut)

LOW QUALITY WATER HIGH QUALITY WATER Station Hazel wood Latrobe River Total Tyers River at Capacity Cooling Pond at Yallourn Low Quality Moondarra MW 500 14 500 14 500 1200 1000 29000 29000 1600 1500 28800 14 800 43600 2100 2000 28800 25 000 53800 2500 4000 28800 58200 87000 3100

SCHEME B-Using only Latrobe River Water LOW QUALITY WATER HIGH QUALITY WATER Station Hazel wood Latrobe River Total Tyers River at Capacity Cooling Pond at Yallourn Low Quality Moondarra MW 500 10500 10 500 1200 1000 19 500 19 500 1600 1500 28500 28500 2100 2000 37000 37000 2500 4000 73000 73000 3100

2.6.6 Proposed Water Supply Scheme tion. The total water supply for the 4000 MW The proposed water supply scheme for the Loy project made up of a combination of water from Yang project aims to conserve the water in the the Hazelwood pond and Latrobe River will Latrobe Valley by using the underground arte­ have a TDS of about 200 mg/1. sian water resulting from open cut operations at Morwell and Loy Yang as well as minimising The proposed scheme consists of a pipeline, the use of water at Loy Yang by recirculating 5.5 km long, from the Hazelwood cooling pond water through the condenser cooling system, and a pipeline, 18 km long, from the Latrobe re-using the cooling water purge for boiler River at Yallourn, connecting into a single washing, ash sluicing, power station wash conduit, 6 km long,.to deliver low quality water down and open cut fire spraying. to the high level water storage west of the Loy Yang project. 2.6.6.1 Low Quality Water The proposed low quality water supply scheme The high level storage has a capacity of about is shown in Figure 27 and will use a mixture of 8700 Ml equivalent to 30 days' water supply for the water from the Hazelwood cooling pond the 4000 MW Loy Yang project. Water will be and from the Latrobe River at Yallourn. piped from this storage, by gravity feed, to the power station some 5.5 km away. The Hazelwood cooling pond, which is replenished with artesian water from the Mor­ 2.6.6.2 High Quality Water well open cut, and with water from the Moon­ The high quality water supply scheme, also darra reservoir, will supply approximately shown in Figure 27, will make use of some of 29 000 Ml/a of water with an average total dis­ the Commission's present entitlement of water solved solids {TDS) of about 500 mg/1. This sup­ from the Tyers River obtained from the ply will be sufficient to meet the low quality LVW&SB storage at Moondarra. The high water requirements for the first two 500 MW quality water requirements for the 4000 MW generating units at Loy Yang. project of about 3100 Ml/a could be supplied either directly from the LVW&SB system or For the third and subsequent generating units from the LVW&SB reservoir at Hazelwood to a water will also be needed from the Latrobe holding basin adjacent to the high level storage River at Yallourn which has a present TDS con­ near Loy Yang. This water will be of suitable tent of about 90 mg/1. Some 25 000 Ml/a will be quality for the domestic needs of the project, needed for the 2000 MW Loy Yang 'A' station but will need further treatment to meet the very and a further 33 200 Ml/a for Loy Yang 'B' sta- high quality required for boiler make-up. 34 K1LC»1£TRES """'"t LOY YANG PROJECT PROPOSED WATER SUPPLY SCHEME A FIG. 27

YANG ECT PROPOSED WATER SUPPLY SCHEME ·a· FIG. 28

35 ...... t HDLAN 0 HIGJ.M'AY (J£ER:~:~~L~ST ROAD) LOY YANG PROJECT ROAD ACCESS

Agreement has been reached with the State machinery and equipment from such places as Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Latrobe Traralgon, Morwell and Melbourne. The Valley Water and Sewerage Board, and Tra­ average daily transport load during the 16 years ralgon Waterworks Trust, that an initial water of construction for the full project is estimated supply for the construction of the Loy Yang pro­ at about 250 tonnes, witn a peak of about 700 ject will be made available from the Traralgon tonnes. After construction is complete the Waterworks Trust system. transport load during the operating life of the power stations and open cut will be relatively 2.6.6.3 Alternative Water Supply Scheme insignificant. In the event of the availability of artesian water Access to the site (or this traffic will be by road from the Morwell open cut being insufficient to only. The route will be along the Morweh-Loy supply water for the Loy Yang project, an alter­ Yang interconnecting road from the Princes native scheme would be to obtain all the low and Midland Highways generally along Porters quality water requirements for the project from Road, Tramway Road, Firmins Lane, Hazel­ the Latrobe River. wood, Sanders and Mattingley Hill Roads. These roads will need to be upgraded and, in In this case the total low quality water require­ some cases, realigned. However, little addi­ ments for the Loy Yang project, based on a water quality of 90 mg/1 (TDS), some 37 000 tional land will be required as substantial ease­ ments are available. The route proposed will Ml/a will be required from the Latrobe River for ensure that residential streets of Traralgon are the 2000 MW Loy Yang A station and some bypassed; see Figure 29. 73 000 Ml/a for the 4000 MW project. Rail access to the site has not been included The alternative water supply scheme, as shown because of the high cost and the need for addi­ in Figure 28, requires a pipeline, about 21 km tional land easements. However, the existing long, from the Latrobe River at Yallourn to the VR siding at the Morwell Briquette Factory will high level storage near Loy Yang. be extended, and storage facilities provided to cater for the expected average daily through­ 2.7 Services put of 80 to 100 tonnes of material during the 2.7.1 Road and Rail Works Loy Yang construction period. The Loy Yang project will require large quan­ tities of aggregate, gravel and crushed rock 2.7 .2 Transport of Heavy Loads from local quarries as well as cement and other Access to date for heavy equipment to the Com­ building materials, steel pipes, structural steel, mission's undertakings in the Latrobe Valley

36 has been by both road and rail. The heaviest be enclosed by a multi-stranded barbed wire single load transported to the Latrobe Valley by fence suitably labelled with Danger, Keep Out road was about 170 tonnes. The Victorian Rail­ signs. ways could also transport a pay load of about 170 tonnes, but the shape of the special wagon imposes severe limitations on the type of load 2.7.4.2 Fire Protection which could be carried. Extensive precautions will be provided against possible fire in the project area to ensure the Investigations into critical heavy loads which safety of personnel and plant. In the power sta­ could be associated with the Loy Yang project, tion area the fire protection facilities will in­ such as turbo-generator stators and main clude automatic fire extinguishing systems, transformers, indicate that provision is required segregation of plant for fire containment, for loads of about 300 tonnes to be transported special ventilation arrangements and special to the Loy Yang site. features to isolate flammable liquids.

lt may not be possible to transport these heavy In the open cut, an extensive system of water loads from the Port of Melbourne and discus­ sprays will be installed to protect the coal sur­ sions have taken place with the Public Works faces against fire. In addition, the buffer zone Department (Ports and Harbours) and John around the works area will provide an effective Lysaghts (Aust) Ltd with a view to using the ex­ fire break between the project and surrounding isting wharf facilities at Westernport. areas.

Discussions are proceeding with the Victorian The land management in this zone, including Railways and Country Roads Board regarding the selection of vegetation and trees for screen­ the possible design by the Commission of a ing the project, will take into consideration the suitable vehicle for carrying a pay load of about aspects of fire protection. 300 tonnes and using the existing rail and road systems. Generally, the power stations and the open cut operations will be self-sufficient in the provi­ 2.7 .3 Stores/Workshops/Depots sion of fire fighting teams from within their own Services for the Loy Yang project such as organisations. The Country Fire Authority is stores, workshops, depots, etc, will be provided responsible for fire protection in the areas out­ in the main by the central facilities available at side the project, and will assist in fire fighting Yallourn and Morwell, together with a small within- the buffer zone areas. local establishment at Loy Yang. 2.7.4.3 Earth Movements The local service complex at Loy Yang will con­ Studies of possible earth movements arouno sist of a main store, drawing and survey centre, the Loy Yang open cut, based on measure­ workshops and depots for civil, mechanical and ments made around the Yallourn and Morwell electrical trades, local telephone exchange, fire open cuts, indicate that the proposed buffer protection facilities, etc. These facilities, to zone around the northern end of the open cut cover an enclosed building area of some 500m2 boundary will be adequate to provide safety for 2 and an open area of about 3500 m , will be any urban development outside the perimeter of established in a central area between the Loy the project. Yang A and B power stations, as shown in Figure 18. The planned Traralgon By-pass Freeway could form a satisfactory boundary for the buffer zone In a(ldition, small store, workshop and depot near the south-east corner of the City of Tra­ facilities will be provided for the personnel ralgon. directly employed in the power stations and open cut, and located within the various operat­ 2.7.4.4 Car Parks ing areas. Separate car parks will be provided for each power station as well as other activities such as 2.7.4 Security of Project coal handling, open cut and overburden dump 2.7.4.1 General operations, services, etc. The main power station areas will be enclosed by a shain wire mesh fence with a security gate The sizes of the car parks and bus terminals will provided at a suitable location. Patrolmen, be based on the number of personnel employed working 3 shifts, 7 days a week, will control the in the construction and operation of the project. main entrance to the site and carry out roving Car parking provision will be made for some inspection of the project area. Adequate 1000 vehicles for the construction force and security lighting will be provided when the some 500 vehicles for the operating personnel power station is completed. Open cut areas will for the initial 2000 MW development.

37 2.8 Personnel • Design of upgraded rail siding at Morwell 2.8.1 Construction Briquette Factory The construction of the initial 2000 MW stage will require a gradual build up in the workforce • Procurement of easements for transmission from about 50 in 1976 to about 1500 by 1981. lines between Loy Yang and HWTS Continued development at Loy Yang to 4000 MW will increase this workforce to a peak of 2.10 Cost Estimates about 2000 by 1988. This workforce will include 2.10.1 General the contractor's personnel required to build the The estimates of cost for the initial 2000 MW power stations, open cut, transmission and an­ stage and the completed 4000 MW project are cillary works as well as the Commission's small shown in Table 4. The table shows the esti­ supervisory staff. mated capital expenditure and annual operat­ ing and maintenance charges expressed at The net increase in the peak construction January 1976 price levels. The costs include all workforce associated with the Commission's Commission indirect overheads, but exclude undertakings in the Latrobe Valley in the 1980's interest during construction which will be met however, will be only 1000 after allowing for the from the Commission's operating accounts. absorption of the 1000 construction personnel from the Yallourn W project which is scheduled for completion by 1980. 2.10.2. Capital Expenditure The capital cost estimates in Table 4 are 2.8.2 Operation segregated into the major activities of open cut, Operation of the Loy Yang project, on the basis power station and transmission, and include of a three-shift, seven-day week, will require the associated cost of area services. The open some 700 to 1000 personnel for the initial 2000 cut cost estimates cover the initial opening and MW stage and 1000 to about 1500 personnel for later development of the open cut over the 30 the full 4000 MW project. This workforce will years' plant life. The transmission cost esti­ cover the wages and staff personnel associated mates cover the transmission works up to with the operation and maintence of the power Hazelwood Terminal Station. The overheads stations, fuel supply, coal winning, overburden cover design engineering, head office and disposal and services as well as management local administration expenses. and administration of the project. The direct capital expenditure for the first 2000 The net increase in the Commission's operat­ MW stage is estimated at $780 million and for ing personnel in the Latrobe Valley undertak­ the full 4000 MW project at $1385 million. The ings, following the completion of the Loy Yang total capital expenditure, including overheads, project and after allowing for retirement of is estimated at $920 million for the 2000 MW some of the older generating plants, however, project and $1635 million for the 4000 MW pro­ will be only about 500. ject.

2.9 Construction Program Although not part of the Loy Yang project, the The program proposed for construction of the 500 kV transmission system between the Hazel­ project provides for the various stages to be wood Terminal Station and Melbourne will reached not later than the following dates: need to be augmented at a cost of $112M, in­ Commence site works February 1977 cluding overheads. Place first main plant order May 1977 2.10.3 Operating Charges Start up first A Station The operation and maintenance charges shown generating unit May 1982 in Table 4 are the estimated average annual Start up first B Station charges over the 30 years' plant life. These generating unit May 1988 charges cover the costs of labour, materials Complete all construction and services associated with the open cut, work June 1993 power station and transmission activities. The Before these works can proceed, it will be overheads cover both the head office and local necessary for several preliminary activities to administration expenses. be carried out by April 1976. The most impor­ tant of these are: The direct operating charges for the first 2000 MW stage are estimated at $19 million pa and • Purchase of remaining land required for the for the full 4000 MW project at $31 million pa. project site The total operating charges, including over­ heads, are estimated at about $24 million pa for • Design of upgraded access roads to the the 2000 MW stage and $40 million pa for the project site 4000 MW project.

38 2.10.4 Energy Costs 3 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS The estimated energy cost at the 2000 MW 3.1 General stage and the 4000 MW project have been The Loy Yang project will bring about tempor­ based on an average capacity factor for about ary and permanent changes to the environment. 80% and an interest rate of 81/2% pa. Table 4 in­ These changes will occur during the construc­ dicates that these costs are 0.9 and 0.8 cents tion and operation of the project which will ex­ per kWh respectively. tend over a period of nearly 50 years. The en­ vironmental effects of the project mainly relate TABLE4 to water, land, air, noise and appearance. LOY YANG PROJECT COST ESTIMATES: JANUARY 1976 PRICE LEVELS The waste discharges resulting from the con­ ITEM struction and operation of a large brown coal $MILLION project such as Loy Yang are shown diagram­ 2000MW 4000MW LOY matically in Figure 30. YANG A LOY YANG A&B The construction of the 4000 MW project will a Capital Expenditure extend over a period of 16 years from 1977 to Open Cut 140 186 1993 with the construction force reaching a Power Station including peak in 1981 for the Loy Yang A station and in Project Services 606 1144 Transmission to Hazelwood 1988 for the Loy Yang B station. During this Terminal Station 34 55 period, as a result of construction activities, Direct Capital Costs 780 1385 there will be movements of materials onto the Overheads 140 250 Total Capital site and some wastes will be produced such as Expenditure 920 1635 various material wastes, emissions of dust and noise. $MILLION PA b Operating and The operation of the power station will require Maintenance Charges large quantities of fuel, air and water, as well as Direct Charges 19 31 miscellaneous supplies, and would result in the Overheads 5 9 Total O&M Charges 24 40 production of substantial quantities of waste heat, flue gases, water vapour, liquid effluents, c Energy Cost Sent Out ash residue, overburden from coal-winning c/kWh 0.9 0.8 operation, and some dust and noise.

--INPUT PHASE WASTE PRODUCTS LAND POWER AND WASTE CONSTRUCTION ONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OPEN CUT MATERIALS (Sotids) PLANT --CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS WASTE CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCT ION MAl cK!AL> I LiqU!as ---PLANT A NO EQUIPMENT

--AIR OPEN CUT -WATER PLANT COMMISSIONING AND f--CHEMICALS OPERATION -WATER

BRCINN ! COAL f----'loo- F L UE GA S ~"'" A~~~~RY- POWER PLANT -CHEM :GALS CCNMISSIONIN G f.--HEAT SOLIDS AND - f----'loo- WATER VAPOUR MIS~G~~d~~OJS- OPERATION ~ASH LOY YA NG PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS FIG. 30

39 2151 tiN/ CNCUJOtHG 12tt ww) lit MW tlHP"'trl OF WATE!t 'tUIOUR (4..0'"1"'

i ~ "

SENT OUT GENERAT£0 2000 NW 1912tat-o•t., NW 1tU.MW 8RoWN COAl POWER ~ 61'JOMW STATION ::.@ (100%1 ~ US£0 IN STATION MNW 20NW

...... ~,. ~2

l;-:o: g"' "

LOY YANG POWER STATION HEAT BALANCE DIAGRAM FIG 31

Both the Environment Protection Authority and energy of the fuel will be converted to electrical its agent, the LVW&SB, have indicated in evi­ energy sent out from the power station, about dence to the PPWC Inquiry on the Loy Yang 31.5% will be rejected from the chimney stacks Coal Reserves that there is no reason why and some 36.5o/o from the cooling towers. Other waste discharge licenses should not be issued, losses amounting to about 4o/o will result from a in due course, with appropriate conditions. small Droportion of the fuel remaining unburnt and extracted in the ash and from heat losses The Commission has ways and means available from. the boilers and other high temperature to it, by appropriate design, construction and plant. operation ofthe project to minimise adverse en­ vironmental effects and to comply with these li­ Some 4o/o to So/o of the electrical energy gener­ cences and conditions. ated will be used within the power station for 3.2 Thermal Balance operating auxiliary plant such as pulverising In the process of conversion of energy from mills, fans, pumps, conveyors and other ser­ coal to electricity in a thermal power station vices. In addition, about 1o/o of the energy sent there are unavoidable heat losses. These out from the power station will be used in open losses arise from recognised limits imposed on cut operations, including the transport of fuel to the efficiency of conversion by the basic laws of the power station. thermodynamics, from the practical limits of temperature of materials and from the various 3.3 Water frictional, electrical and other losses which oc­ 3.3.1 Water Usage cur throughout the plant. The State Rivers and Water Supply Commis­ sion has stated that the provision of a storage The use of a relatively low-grade fuel, such as upstream of Yallourn could regulate the river Loy Yang brown coal, results in further signifi­ flows to meet the water requirements for the cant heat losses as a consequence of its high Loy Yang project during the most severe moisture content. So far, no satisfactory com­ recorded drought, as well as maintain river mercial process has been developed for use in water salinities at less than 200 mg/1 1 km power station practice to remove the water from downstream of Yallourn Weir and less than 450 the coal other than by evaporation which re­ mg/1 at Rosedale, after allowing for the return of quires a substantial amount of heat energy. water from the Commission and other users. The Environment Protection Authority has indi­ The heat balance for the 2000 MW Loy Yang A cated that the beneficial uses of the river could station is shown diagramatically in Figure 31. be maintained if the above salinities were not This shows that about 28% of the gross heat exceeded.

40 The consumption of Latrobe River water at Loy rapidly refill. lt is estimated that, following a Yang will reduce the flow into the Gippsland one in ten-year drought, refilling of the storage Lakes by between about 2% and 4% of the would take about five months. average total river flow into Lake Wellington, depending upon the availability of artesian Although the Gippsland Lakes Study, proposed water from the Morwell open cut. by the Ministry for Conservation, has not yet commenced and meaningful results may not be However, operation of the proposed storage available for a number of years, it appears, from dam could provide a guaranteed minimum flow broad consideration of the main factors such as into the lake from the Latrobe River during dry water flows and salinities, that the effects of the periods, although inflow would be slightly Loy Yang project are likely to be very small. below the natural level during the months of higher river discharge. 3.3.2 Waste Effluent from Project Operation The main liquid wastes which will result from lt has been suggested by the Ministry for Con­ the operation of the Loy Yang project are: servation and others that the Loy Yang project may affect the Gippsland Lakes. • Cooling tower purge.

The Gippsland Lakes consist of a series of • Ashing wastes. shallow lakes separated from Bass Strait by a narrow strip of land which was broken at Lakes • Other power station wastes. Entrance in 1890. They are affected by both the • Coal handling area wash-down wastes. sea water and fresh river water entering the system which result in a saline gradient from • Open cut and overburden dump wastes. Lakes Entrance to Lake Wellington. • Oil wastes. Under normal conditions, the tidal effects domi­ nate the flow conditions through the entrance • Domestic sewage. and have the biggest effects on Lake King, Lake Victoria and Reeve Channel. However, as Figure 32 shows the flow diagram of the ex­ indicated by the saline gradient, they also have pected liquid wastes resulting from the Loy a significant effect on Lake Wellington. There Yang project and indicates their source of sup­ are two main factors affecting the salinity of ply and proposed discharge locations. Figure Lake Wellington, namely- the inflow of saline 33 shows the arrangement of the proposed water through McLennans Strait, from Lake scheme for treated effluent disposal from the Victoria; and the annual flushing of the lake project. A description of each of the liquid with fresh water from the rivers during the high­ wastes follows below. flow period of winter and spring. As a result, the salinity varies widely within the period of one 3.3.2.1 Cooling Tower Purge year and in different parts of the lake. Small Waste heat from the steam condensers will be variation of average inflow from the Latrobe transferred to cooling water recirculating River as a result of the Loy Yang Project would, through natural draft cooling towers. Water therefore, appear to have no significant adverse from this system will be used also to cool sta­ effect on the salinity regimes of the lake. Also, tion auxiliary plant such as bearing oil coolers the effect of changes in salinity of the river and transformers as shown earlier in Figure 24. water, considering the standards set by the En­ vironment Protection Authority, including dis­ Evaporation of water in the cooling towers charges from the power station, is of little con­ leads to some concentration of dissolved solids sequence compared with the volume of inflow and the condenser cooling water system will be of highly saline water from Lake Victoria purged to maintain a satisfactory concentration through McLennans Strait. of dissolved solids.

Concern has also been expressed by the Minis­ lt will be re-used as make-up water to the ash­ try for Conservation at the effects that storages ing and open cut fire service systems, for boiler would have on frequency and timing of flooding washing and washing down of both power sta­ of the wetlands associated with the Gippsland tion and coal handling areas. After re-use, this Lakes system. The storage proposed on the up­ water will eventually be discharged into either per Latrobe River, under normal circums­ the settling pond or ash pond as shown in tances, would be maintained at its full capacity, Figure 33. thereby allowing naturally occuring flood flows to continue to pass down the river system to the 3.3.2.2 Ashing Wastes wetlands. Following drought periods, when The proposed ash disposal scheme for the Loy drawdown could occur, the storage would Yang project is based on a fully hydraulic

41 WATER TREA.T~ENT PLANT. CONOE~SATE POliSHING PLANT. CHEMICAl LABORATORIES. HYDROGE~ GAS GENERATION PLANT. BOILER ACIO CLEAN.

HIGH QUAL! TV WATER SUPPlY

~ ~ ~ l'I'SERS. ~ ili !< ~ "

LOY YANG PROJECT SOURCE AND DESTINATION DIAGRAM OF LIQUID WASTES FIG. 32

system in which the furnace ash, fly ash and 3.3.2.4 Coal Handling Area Wash-Down boiler wash waste effluents are hydraulically Wastes transported by pipeline to the ash pond for set­ Liquid wastes containing coal and coal dust tlemeflt. The furnace ash is collected from the particles in suspension will be produced in furnace hoppers of each boiler and the fly ash power station coal handling areas as the result from the precipitator hoppers. of wash-down operations, and they will be dis­ charged to the settling pond. The ash effluent, discharged from the ash pond, will amount to about 120 1/s for the first 2000 3.3.2.5 Open Cut and Overburden Dump MW stage and have a concentration of about Wastes 11 000 mg/1 of dissolved solids. A small amount Stormwater run-off, fire service run-off and (about 10 1/s) of chemical wastes will be in­ other open cut wastes will be pumped out of the cluded in the ashing wastes. open cut into an open cut fire service reservoir and any overflow from the reservoir will be dis­ charged into the settling pond. These wastes 3.3.2.3 Other Power Station Wastes will contain both suspended and dissolved These liquid wastes can be separated into three solids. types: The quantity of liquid wastes from the open cut • Chemical Wastes - arising from boiler will gradually increase to about 150 1/s as the acid cleaning operations, water treatment cut expands. plant and the chemical laboratories. Stormwater run-off from the overburden dumps • Miscellaneous Wastes such as will -contain material in suspension and will re­ wash-down water, boiler blow-down and quire treatment until the vegetation cover on discharges from instrument rooms. the dump is fully established. This stormwater run-off will be collected and treated in a num­ • Stormwater run-off - from areas in ber of ponds west of the overburden dump as the vicinity of the power station containing shown in Figure 33. ash, coal and silt particles. The quantity of stormwater run-off from the These waste~ will be treated in either the set­ overburden· dump will gradually increase to tling pond or ash pond. about 60 1/s as the open cut expands.

42 -WASTE DRAIN

OPEN CUT __ _J:LEAN STOFI:MWATER CUT-OFF -+-STOR"'-·· WATER CUT-OFF DRAIN

-t- ~~~~~'i~ EFFLUENT DISCHARGE

COOLING TOWER PURGE ---PIPELINE OPEN CUT ffRE SERVICE WATER -·-SUPPLY AND WASTE O!SCHARGE PIPELINE -··-ASHING PIPEliNES OPEN CUT fiRE SERVICE --ftSR\I()R (Nf:RHOW PIPHIH£ 0 0 COOLING TOWfR$

OVERBURDEN DUMP

ARRANGEMENT OF SCALE 200 o 4oo eoo LIQUID WASTE !11.1 I I I J METRES DISPOSAL SYSTEM f FIG. 33

3.3.2.6 Oil Wastes Valley Water and Sewerage Board By-Law No 7 In areas where oil will be present or handled, oil before their discharge into local streams. These separation pits will be installed in the drainage holdlng ponds will be large enough to contain system so that any spillages which occur could and treat, where appropriate, stormwater run­ be collected tor subsequent disposal through off. For a storm more severe than that which the Commission's salvage organisation. Provi­ would occur with a frequency of once in five sion of these pits will ensure that traces of oil in years, the overflow from the open cut tire ser­ the treated effluent discharged from the site will vice reservoir would discharge to Flynn's Creek not exceed 10 mg/1. while the overflows from the other holding ponds will discharge to Traralgon Creek. 3.3.2.7 Domestic Sewage Domestic sewage from the power station, 3.3.3.1 Ash Pond amenities, administration and auxiliary service Undissolved ash arising from ashing and boiler buildings, amounting to some 5 1/s for the 4000 wash systems and amounting to some 6.5 MW stage, will be discharged into the Latrobe million m3 tor the 4000 MW project will be col­ Valley Water and Sewerage Board system. lected and settled out in an ash pond.

3.3.3 Treatment and Disposal of Liquid The treated effluent from the ash pond will be Wastes discharged away from the site via a pipeline to The wastes resulting from the operation of the the ocean. The major chemical constituents of Loy Yang project will be collected and treated this effluent are sodium and calcium chlorides in the main holding ponds in the system, that is, and sulphates, and will be similar to those con­ the ash pond, settling pond, open cut tire ser­ tained in sea water. vice reservoir and overburden run-off treatment pond, before being discharged into local Figure 34 shows the possible pipeline route and streams or disposed of away from the site. location of the discharge point some 5 km west of Seaspray. The liquid wastes in the holding ponds, except the ash pond, will be treated so that the quantity 3.3.3.2 settling Pond of suspended and dissolved solids per unit Excess cooling tower purge, miscellaneous volume will be reduced to comply with the en­ power station wastes, stormwater run-off from vironmental standards set out in the Latrobe the power station area, discharges from oil

43 separation pits, coal handling area wash-down 3.3.3.4 Overburden Run-off Treatment Ponds wastes and the overflow from the open cut fire Stormwater run-off from the overburden dump service reservoir, amounting to about 800 000 will be passed through small retention ponds m3 of undissolved solids for a 4000 MW project, and grass filters into a treatment pond with a will be collected and settled out in a settling capacity to retain about 20 000 m3 of settled pond. material. Further treatment such as flocculation with settlement could be carried out, if re­ Apart from settling out suspended material from quired, prior to discharge into the Traralgon the above wastes, the settling pond will also be Creek as shown in Figure 33. used to reduce the heat loading contained in the cooling tower purge inflow. 3.3.3.5 Construction Storage Area Wastes For the 2000 MW stage, the treated effluent dis­ Wastes from the construction storage area will charged from the settling pond will average be treated separately using a silt trap in con­ about 720 l/s containing about 650 mg/1 of dis­ junction with an oil separation pit. solved solids and up to 30 mg/1 of suspended solids. This effluent will be discharged into the The treated effluent, averaging about 20 1/s, Traralgon Creek as shown in Figure 33. containing about 50 mg/1 of dissolved solids and up to 30 mg/1 of suspended solids, will be 3.3.3.3 Open Cut Fire Service Reservoir discharged into Sheepwash Creek. Wastes from the open cut, including storm­ water and fire service run-off, will be pumped into the open cut fire service reservoir which 3.3.3.6 Chemicals will have sufficient capacity to retain 400 000 m3 Organic growths such as slime that may form of settled material. within the condenser cooling water system will be controlled by the intermittent application of The overflow from this reservoir will normally chlorine solution. Residual chlorine will be discharge into the settling pond. For storms quickly dissipated in the cooling water system more severe than those with a frequency of with only a negligible quantity remaining within once in five years, the overflow will discharge the cooling tower purge discharged from the into Flynn's Creek. system.

PROPOSED TREATED ASH EFFLUENT STRAIT PIPELINE ROUTE

fN s 20 30 "'"' KILOMETRES ~ LOY YANG PROJECT PROPOSED TREATED ASH EFFLUENT PIPEUNE ROUTE FIG. 34

44 Caustic soda and sulphuric acid will be used together with the wastes removed from the within the demineralisation and condensate LVW&SB water supply. polishing plant to regenerate resins. These 3.3.4 Summary of Treated Effluents resins are used to produce high quality make­ Discharged ftom Loy Yang up water for the boilers from the LVW&SB water Table 5 and 6 summarise the estimated quan­ supply. These chemicals will be substantially tities and qualities of the treated effluents dis­ neutralised within the treatment plant before charged from Loy Yang for 2000 MW and 4000 finally being discharged into the ash pond, MW stages of the project.

TABLES LOY YANG : 2000 MW STAGE SUMMARY OF TREATED EFFLUENTS DISCHARGED FROM THE SITE

LIQUID WASTE OR DISCHARGE AVERAGE EFFLUENT QUALITY TREATMENT LOCATION OF EFFLUENT Average Maximum pH FACILITY TREATED EFFLUENT QUANTITY Dissolved Suspended Range 1/s Solids Solids mg/1 mg/1 Settling Pond Traralgon Creek 720 650 (11 30 (1)(2) 7-8.5 Overburden Run-off Treatment Pond Traralgon Creek 35 400 (1) 30(1) 6.5-7.5 Ash Pond Ocean 120 11 000 10 8-10 Domestic Sewage LVW&SB Sewer 3 Oil Wastes Disposed through (Collected in Commission's Oil Separation Salvage Organi- Pits) sation Construction Sheepwash Creek 20 50 (1) 30 (1) (2) Storage Area Treatment NOTE: 1 The concentrations of dissolved and suspended solids in these effluents would meet the LVW&SB standards set out in By-Law No 7, that is, maximum of 1000 ppm (mg/1) for dissolved solids and maximum of 30 ppm (mg/1) for suspended solids. 2 Trace of oi I not greater than 10 mg/1.

TABLE& LOYYANG :4000MW STAGE SUMMARY OF TREATED EFFLUENTS DISCHARGED FROM THE SITE

LIQUID WASTE OR DISCHARGE AVERAGE EFFLUENT QUANLITY TREATMENT LOCATION OF EFFLUENT Average Maximum pH FACILITY TREATED EFFLUENT QUANTITY Dissolved Suspended Range 1/s Solids Solids mg/1 mg/1 Settling Pond Traralgon Creek 830 600 (1) 30 (1)(2) 7-8.5 Overburden Run-off Treatment Traralgon Creek 60 400 (1) 30(1) 6.5-7.5 Pond Ash Pond Ocean 240 11 000 10 8-10 Domestic Sewage LVW & SB Sewer 5 OiiWastes (Collected in Disposed through Oil Separation Pits) Commission's Salvage Organisation Construction Sheepwash Creek 20 50 (1) 30(1)(2) Storage Area Treatment

NOTE: 1 The concentrations of dissolved and suspended solids in these effluents would meet the LVW&SB standards set out in By-Law No 7 that is, maximum of 1000 ppm (mg/1) for dissolved solids and maximum of 30 ppm (mg/1) for suspended solids. 2 Trace of oil not greater than 10 mg/1.

45 3.3.5 Discharges to Local Streams The outlets from the ponds will be designed so The Loy Yang project is located within the that the maximum discharge into Traralgon catchment area of Traralgon and Sheepwash Creek, other than under the spill conditions Creeks, two small tributaries of the Latrobe referred to above, will be limited to 1.5 m3 /sec River system. The larger of these two streams, with provision for the retained storm inflows to Traralgon Creek, will receive the majority of the be released to the creek during periods of low treated effluents discharged from the project. intensity rain. Only small waste discharges will be made to Sheepwash Creek and Flynn's Creek. The effect on flows in Traralgon Creek, due to the maximum discharge rate of 1.5 m3/sec of Traralgon Creek rises in the Strzelecki Ranges and flows northerly through the City of Tra­ treated effluent from the ponds, will be to in­ ralgon joining the Latrobe River at a point crease the maximum recorded flows at Tra­ ralgon, measured in 1969, by less than 3% and about 2 km north of the city boundary. to increase the average annual maximum flows, Although provided for in the Environment Pro­ measured over the period 1961 to 1972, by less tection Act 1970, protection policies for these than 6%. streams have not yet been made. In the absence of these, the design of the project liquid waste Flow records indicate that Traralgon Creek will disposal scheme was based on the relevant overtop the Franklin Street Bridge, north of Tra­ provisions of the Latrobe Valley Water and ralgon, at flows of 8m3/sec and will overtop the Sewerage Board By-Law No 7 wnich was pro­ banks of the creek in the northern section of the mulgated on 14 May 1969 and which relates to city at flows of 32m3/sec. On a statistical basis, the prevention and regulation of the discharge the discharge of treated effluent into Traralgon of waste into the Latrobe River system. Creek could have the effect of increasing the duration of these flood conditions at Franklin The predominant pollutants contained in the li­ Street Bridge from 4.7 to 6.1 days per year and quid wastes resulting from operation of the Loy the overtopping of the banks from 0.11 days to Yang project and which will be discharged into 0.12 days per year. local streams after treatment are: The estimated average quantity of treated • Suspended solids contained in run-off from effluents to be discharged into Traralgon Creek the open cut, power station, coal handling for the 4000 MW development will be 890 1/s wash-down areas and the overburden (0.89 m3/sec). The effects on naturally occur­ dump. ring flows in Traralgon Creek of this discharge • Heat loading and dissolved solids con­ will be to increase mean summer flow approx­ tained in the cooling tower purge. imately 4 times and yearly mean flows by about 70 per cent. Zero minimum flows have been Ponds provided for the treatment of liquid recorded in Traralgon Creek and, under these wastes will be designed to remove suspended conditions, the minimum flow in the creek when solids and reduce heat loading before dis­ Loy Yang is operational would be almost totally charging the liquid wastes to local streams. provided from the discharges from the settling Sufficient storage capacity has been provided pond. in the settling ponds to retain all of the sus­ pended solid's. The main effect of discharges into Traralgon Creek from the settling pond and the over­ Treated effluent from the settling pond and the burden treatment run-off pond will be an in­ overburden treatment run-off pond will dis­ crease in the total dissolved solids content of charge via a single outlet into Traralgon Creek. the water. This is mainly due to the concentra­ Treated effluent from the construction storage tion of the supply water constituents resulting area will be discharged into Sheepwash Creek from evaporation of water in the recirculating and, under severe rainstorm conditions, excess condenser water cooling system. The estimated flows from the open cut fire service reservoir average concentration of the effluent discharge will discharge into Flynn's Creek. is 600-650 mg/1 total dissolved solids with an upper value rising to a maximum to 1000 mg/1. The settling pond and overburden run-off treat­ The resultant streamflow quality in terms of ment pond will have sufficient capacity to store total dissolved solids, downstream of waste flood flows for storms with a return period of 1 water discharge, is estimated to have an aver­ in 5 years. Stormwater run-off from a storm wJth agevalue of 400 mg/1. This resultant quality of a return period more severe than 1 in 5 years streamflow, even in times of maximum occur­ will be discharged from these ponds via a spill­ ring salinity, is considered to be suitable for ir­ way into Traralgon Creek. rigation purposes.

46 The effects of the total dissolved solids con­ ary include transmission lines, water supply, centrations in the Latrobe River due to the dis­ pipelines and storage dams, access roads for charge of effluents from Loy Yang will be to in­ transport of materials, and personnel. crease the concentrations in the river at Rosedale from 197 mg/1 to 220 mg/1. 3.4.1 Open Cut The open cut will extend progressively away The water quality of the treated effluents nor­ from the outlet over an area of 1100 ha, varying mally discharging into the Traralgon and in depth from some 20 m on the southern side to Sheepwash Creeks will be monitored. a maximum of about 200 m in the north-west corner. The open cut will provide a contrast to 3.3.6 Ash Effluent Disposal the surrounding grazing areas and it will be im­ The settlement of insoluble ash in the ash pond practical to screen it. will leave an effluent containing high con­ centrations of dissolved solids of which the ma­ However, some clumps of trees will be planted jor chemical constituents will be sodium and in the buffer zone to break regularity of the sulphate, together with calcium, magnesium open cut boundary in particular areas. Existing and chloride. As well, chemical wastes arising trees, other sparse vegetation and the rural from the operation of the power station wi 11 be nature of the buffer zone will be maintained discharged into the ash pond. These waste subject to the operational control necessary to effluents from the ash pond will be discharged rninimise fire hazards. through a disposal pipeline to the ocean. The Latrobe Valley Water and Sewerage Board will The permanent batters of the open cut will be have the responsibility of preparing an environ­ progressively stabilished as the open cut ad­ mental report on the off-site disposal system for vances. However, the excavation will need to the ash pond effluents. be kept dry until such time as operations cease.

The total discharge from the ash pond for the When operations are complete, tne land sur­ 4000 MW development is estimated to be 240 1/s face cannot be restored to the original levels as (0.24 m3/sec) and to contain about 11 000 mg/1 the overburden is less than 20% of the total ex­ dissolved solids, 10 mg/1 of suspended solids cavated material. and a pH of between 8 and 10. The total con­ Both horizontal and vertical earth movements centration of heavy metals is expected to be around the periphery of the Loy Yang open cut less than 1.0 mg/1. The main heavy metals ex­ will occur gradually over the life of the project. pected are copper, zinc, nickel and iron These movements will result from the relief of Tests have shown that no chemical reaction oc­ stresses in the in situ coal when overburden curs when ash effluent, similar to the type ex­ and coal are excavated as well as from pump­ pected at Loy Yang, is mixed with sea water. ing of underground water ahead of open cut The colour of the ash effluent will be similar to operations. Pumping which will lower the water that of sea water, the chemical constituents are table and the artesian water pressure in of the same type, and it is not expected that the aquifers separating the coal seams, and will be discharge of this effluent into sea water will necessary for the safety of personnel and have any significant environmental effect. machinery within the open cut. The effect of dewatering will reduce with dis­ Sufficient storage capacity has oeen provided tance from the open cut and the predicted in the ash pond to retain all of the insoluble ash values of differential earth movement outside likely to result from the operation of the project. the buffer zone are negligible and will not cause any damage to buildings or services. 3.4 Land However, continuous monitoring of earth move­ The project will introduce a major new in­ ments will be carried out to confirm predicted dustrial activity into an essentially rural area. values and these data will be made available to The changes resulting from project develop­ interested bodies. ment will extend over a lengthy period and in­ volve land use both within and outside the pro­ Earth movements expected from the Lay Yang ject boundaries. project were independently assessed by Golder Brawner and Associates Ltd. Canadian Consul­ A number of separate components comprise tants, who have been advising the Commission the project each of which will have identifiable on these matters over many years. effects on the land environment. These are the open cut, power stations, water cooling towers, 3.4.2 Overburden Dump external overburden dump, ash pond, water Until the later years of development, the over­ supply and waste disposal systems, and the burden dump will only be visible from the west. buffer zone. Works outside the project bound- A proposed belt of trees along the Traralgon 47 Creek Road will screen the initial layers of lt is anticipated that rural activity will continue overburden and existing trees will be retained within this buffer zone and, for a time, in the where possible. areas which will eventually be used for the open cut or overburden dump. In general, as the dump stabilises and opera­ tions permit, the overburden will be In general, topsoil in the project area is shallow progressively covered with grasses, trees and and of poor quality. In stockpile it becomes shrubs so that it will gradually blend into the sterile and is then unsuitable for regeneration surrounding landscape. of nat1ve flora. However, experience in over­ burden dump rehabilitation at Yallourn has shown that vegetation can be readily 3.4.3 Other Features established without the use of topsoil by using A number of water storages such as the high fertilisers and trace elements. Topsoil will be level water storage, open cut fire service reser­ collected and used, where practicable, to re­ voir and ash and waste effluent settling ponds, establish some of the overburden dump and as well as numerous stormwater collecting power station area. ponds, will also be features of the project. Ex­ perience at Yallourn and Morwell has shown lt may be practicable to remove topsoil from that these water storages will attract water birds limited areas for re-use, but not from extensive and aquatic plant growth not previously seen in areas in conjunction with open cut operations. the area. The Commission could permit, subject to cer­ tain conditions, responsible authorities to strip The ash pond will be designed and constructed topsoil in front of open cut operations. The so that any seepage will be negligible and have Commission would also co-operate with any in­ no effect on the underground water in the area. terested persons in collecting topsoil from small areas of special significance such as Three transmission line easements will be re­ from the Wildflower Reserve at Traralgon South quired between Loy Yang and the existing ter­ for its removal to other sites, for example, along minal stations in the Morweii-Hazelwood area. road verges. However, the Latrobe Valley Field The easements will pass through land that is Naturalists Club, in its evidence, recognises used generally for grazing and pine planta­ that plants could not be successfully tions. Approximately 80% of the land would be transplanted from one reserve to another. grazed and most of the remainder is under cultivation by Australian Paper Manufacturers The topsoil in the overburden dump area will be .g.Fewing pine trees for paper manufacture. The left in situ as a porous layer which will con­ land in the grazing area is mostly cleared of tribute to the drainage and thus to the stability natural timber except for scattered trees and and safety of the dump. shelter belts. Along most of the roads in the area trees have been left on the road reserve. 3.5 EHect on Facilities in Project Area There are a number of dwellings in the area and 3.5.1 Traralgon South subdivision into smaller lots has taken place in The small community centre at Traralgon several areas. The transmission lines will tra­ South, located near the junction of the Tra­ verse different routes and be located to have ralgon Creek and Callignee South Roads, will minimum effect on dwellings and subdivisions. need to be relocated as a result of overburden The lines will have little effect on the use of the disposal and ancillary operations. land for grazing and agriculture except that during construction some inconvenience may The present community facilities consist of a be experienced by landholders. state school, public hall, church and three ten­ nis courts, together with pavilion and club Land requirements for the project include a room. Discussions have commenced with the buffer zone enclosing the project workings. In Education Department and appropriate repre­ general, the power stations and associated sentatives from these community organisations works are surrounded by the open cut and ex­ with a view to their relocation at a suitable site. ternal overburden dump which provide a subs­ tantial area of lower density activity. The local residents have indicated a preference for these facilities to be re-established as a new The buffer zone will provide a transition to the community complex, approximately 3 km surrounding rural areas to mitigate the effects further south, along the Traralgon Creek Road of noise, dust, etc, at the edges of the working and close to the edge of the buffer zone bound­ areas and to avoid any adverse effects of ary south of the Loy Yang project, as shown in ground settlement near the open cut bound­ Figure 35. The Education Department, however, aries. lt will also allow controlled plantings of has indicated in discussions that no decision trees to screen parts of the project. will be made on the relocation of the State

48 258.000

=i-+~i ------.£·-r_j I · ' .

~ BOUNDARY OF -·- 4000 MW OEVELDPN&IT 0 COOLING TOWERS 0 LOY YANG PROJECT FACILITIES AFFECTED IN PROJECT AREA

i....S;EOO'==J1000iiioo..ot==::i2000 METRES FIG. 35

School until1980, which is the earliest time the will need to be deviated as shown in Figure 35. Commission's operation will affect this area. The Traralgon Creek and Callignee South Roads will require deviations c.f approximately 3.5.2 Wild flower Reserve 31!2 km and 4 km, respectively. The Gormandale An existing wildflower reserve, located on the Road will require a deviation of some 7 km Callignee South Road, about 500 m east of the around the north-east end of the open cut. The Traralgon Creek Road, lies in an area which Traralgon Creek and Callignee South Roads will be covered by the overburden dump. will need to be deviated by about 1980 and the An area of land will be made available, south of Gormand ale Road some 20 years later. the project (see Figure 35), to the Latrobe A number of other roads in the area will become Valley Field Naturalists Club for use as a redundant, such as Bartons Lane, or will be ter­ wildflower reserve. minated at the project boundary, such as Min­ 3.5.3 Gravel Pits niedale Road. The Loy Yang project would affect four gravel 3.5.5 Others pits in the area as shown in Figure 35. These A numb"Jr of minor local facilities such as minor gravel pits have been used mainly for local road roads, telephone cables and a motor cycle construction and could also be used by the track adjacent to the Callignee South Road will Commission in the early stages of construction be affected by the Loy Yang project and may of the Loy Yang project. need to be relocated. Agreement has been reached with the Shire of Traralgon regarding the continued use of some 3.6 Air of these deposits until the land is required by 3.6.1 General the Commission for the Loy Yang project. Gaseous and particulate pollutants and heat will be emitted from the power station chim­ 3.5.4 Roads neys, water vapour will be produced by the At present the project area is served by three cooling towers and dust may arise from open major roads, namely, Traralgon Creek, cut, overburden dumping operations, and dur­ Callignee South and Gormandale Roads, which ing the construction phase of the project.

49 The project has been assessed against stan­ 3.6.2 Diecharges to Air dards laid down by the National Health and 3.6.2.1 Features of Boiler Plant Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the The boilers proposed for the Loy Yang stations World Health Organisation (WHO) and the En­ will reflect the latest experience gained on the vironment Protection Agency of the United present Latrobe Valley brown coal stations and States of America (USEPA). Rates of dust will be designed to be sufficiently flexible to ac­ deposition were assessed against a guide used cept coal with the range of characteristics out­ by the Environment Protection Authority in Vic­ lined earlier in Table 1. Continuing develop­ toria. ment and testing of the existing boilers is being directed towards achieving complete combus­ Calculations, augmented by information ob­ tion of the fuel and efficient clean-up of the flue tained from surveys in the Latrobe Valley and gases before being discharged from the from measurements taken on operating power chimney stacks. stations, have established that gaseous pollu­ tants will comply under all circumstances with The boilers will incorporate proven coal milling the above standards with respect to both el1)is­ and firing equipment. Tests on similar equip­ sion rates and air quality. Emissions will not ment in the existing Latrobe Valley power sta­ harm the health and welfare of local residents, tions are being carried out before commitment nor flora and fauna. to specific designs to ensure that detail design and performance features are optimised for the The cooling towers will produce vapour plumes Loy Yang application. which will be visible for a considerable dis­ tance. However, such plumes are not Owing to the high moisture content of brown aesthetically displeasing and have no signifi­ coal, special techniques are necessary to cant environmental consequence. achieve satisfactory combustion. In addition to a hot gas recirculating system for use in drying Investigations overseas, especially in England the coal during milling, fuel stream separation and the United States of America, into the will be employed to achieve stable combustion. behaviour and effects of vapour plumes from However, the moisture in the fuel is still present cooling towers have shown that any effects on in the boiler furnace and it inevitably has a ma­ rainfall, sunshine, relative humidity or the inci­ jor influence on the combustion process. In dence of fog are insignificant and that any "rain general, the furnace operates at relatively low out" from the towers equipped with eliminators temperatures and less flexibility and stability is is at a level below that detectable by human available than is commonly experienced with senses. other fuels. Observations made on the Yallourn W cooling towers have demonstrated the applicability of One benefit of the low temperature operation is these overseas conclusions to the local en­ the relatively low production of oxides of vironment. nitrogen compared with those normally associ­ ated with high temperature reactions. Conse­ quently, it is expected that virtually the only Open cuts can produce a temporary dust nui­ emission of oxides of nitrogen from the chim­ sance in dry gusty conditions, particularly neys will be due to the small percentage of when a change of wind direction occurs. Dust combined nitrogen in the fuel. gauges installed in Morwell (which is closer to the existing Morwell open cut than Traralgon The flue gas wiiJ pass through electrostatic pre­ will be to the Loy Yang open cut) have cipitators before being discharged from the established that the open cut will not create a chimney. In the precipitators, the fine particles significant dust nuisance. of ash and dust entrained in the gas will receive Th.e use of water sprays on coal faces in dry an electric charge, be deflected and then held weather and the width of the buffer zone will on vertical collecting plates. Periodically the effectively eliminate any dust nuisance outside plates are vibrated, causing the particles to fall the works area. into hoppers for removal.

Dust nuisance from construction activities, the Specifications for the precipitators will not be dumping of overburden and roads will be issued until the relevant boiler parameters are minimised by watering, sealing and planting, as known, after the boiler tenders are received. appropriate. In particular, the overburden dump The specifications will incorporate the latest will be progressively planted with grass and operating experience and refinements obtained trees so that the area acting as a potential from the Commission's existing brown coal source of·wind-borne dust at any time will be precipitator plants at the Hazelwood, Yallourn E only a small fraction of the total area. and Yallourn W power stations.

50 Parallel passes capable of individual isolation Also present are very small amounts of sulphur will be provided to enable on-load maintenance oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) arising of the precipitators. The capacity of the pre­ from the combustion of sulphur and nitrogen in cipitators will be such that, with one pass out of the fuel. service, emission standards will still be met unless the outage of the pass coincides with Loy Yang brown coal has a low ash content the use of high ash coal in which case the out­ and, after the combustion gases pass through put of the generator will be reduced. the precipitators, the amount of particulate mat­ ter left in the flue gas will be very small. 3.6.2.2 Flue Gases The main products from the combustion of The composition of flue gases from the Loy brown coal are carbon dioxide, water vapour Yang A power station, operating at its max­ and nitrogen from the combustion air. Small imum continuous output of 2000 MW and based amounts of oxygen are present in the flue gases on the typical analysis of the Loy Yang brown due to the need to provide an excess of air to coal, is shown in Table 7. The total gas flow is ensure the satisfactory combustion of the fuel. estimated at about 3750 kg/sec.

TABLE7 LOY YANG PROJECT: TYPICAL COMPOSITION OF FLUE GASES AS DISCHARGED FROM STACKS

COAL FIRED

MAIN %BY MASS IN %BY VOLUME IN GAS FLOW FROM 2000 MW POWER CONSTITUENTS FLUE GAS FLUE GAS STATION AT FULL LOAD (wet) (wet) Mass Volume kg/s m3 /sat 21rc N2 63 63 2380 3410 C02 17 11 630 580 H20 14 21 520 11.60 02 6 5 220 280 SOx < 0.03 < 0.012 < 1.1 < 0.7 NOx < 0.04 < 0.025 < 1.5 < 1.4 Ash < 0.01 <0.3 TOTAL 3750 5430

3.6.2.3 Chimney Emissions Table 8 also compares the expected chimney The sulphur content of Loy Yang brown coal is emissions with the USA Environment Protec­ about 0.4% by weight (dry basis), as shown tion Agency (EPA) Standards issued in March earlier in Table 1, and it is estimated that the ox­ 1974. ides of sulphur in the flue gas will be less than 0.012% by volume as indicated in Table 7. lt should be noted that there are no published The chemically combined nitrogen in the fLtel local or overseas emission standards averages about 0.5% by weight (dry basis) and specifically applicable to brown-coal-fired it is expected that the emission of oxides of power Stations. The National Emissions Stan­ nitrogen in the flue gas on average will be less dards for Air Pollutants, issued in November than 1.5 kg/s as shown in Table 7. 1972 by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) do not ap­ The precipitators, combined with the low dust ply-specifically to coal-fired power stations ex­ burden in the combustion gases, will ensure cept for particulate matter. that, when burning coal of average quality, the quantity of particulate matter emitted in the flue As indicated in Table 8, sulphur dioxide (S02), gas from the chimney will not exceed on an nitrogen oxides (NOx) expressed as nitrogen 3 average 0.085 g/m (wet) n.t.p. (normal tem­ dioxide (N02), and particulate matter in the Loy perature of 0°C and pressure of 1 atmosphere) Yang chimney emissions will meet the USEPA as shown in Table 8. emission standards for solid fossil-fuel-fired The estimated emissions for oxides of sulphur stationary sources. lt should be noted that the and nitrogen, as well as particulates, are also USEPA standard for NOx excludes !ignites and, shown in Table 8. The figures given are based since Loy Yang coal approaches a lignite, the on the typical analysis of Loy Yang coal indi­ figures are quoted for comparison purposes cated in Table 1 and for full load conditions. only.

51 TABLE 8 EXPECTED CHIMNEY EMISSIONS AND STANDARDS LOY YANG EMISSION STANDARDS CHIMNEY USEPA (MARCH 1974) EMISSION g/m3 lb/106 Equivalent n.t.p. wet Btu of g/m3 Heat Input n.t.p. wet S02 Coal firing 0.323 1.2 1.1645 NOx Coal firing 0.484 0.7 0.679 (Expressed as N02) Particulates Coal firing 0.085 0.1 0.097 NOTE: Based on typical analysis of Lay Yang coal.

The particulate matter in the Lay Yang chimney United States Environment Protection Agency emission at 0.085 g/m3 n.t.p. wet (0.108 g/m3 (USEPA) primary air quality standards and n.t.p. dry) is below the 0.137 g/m3 required World Health Organisation (WHO) long-term by the Environment Protection Authority. goals. In all instances, the glc to be expected from the 2000 MW and 4000 MW stages of the project include allowance for background levels and will be below the recommended 3.6.2.4 Chimney Plume Dispersion levels. The Lay Yang power station will incorporate efficient and up-to-date means of controlling Measurements taken in and around ·the pro­ emissions, thus minimising any adverse effects posed project area indicate low background on the environment. Since no efficient means levels of concentration of sulphur dioxide, are, as yet, available for the removal of sulphur nitrogen oxides (as nitrogen dioxide) and par­ and nitrogen oxides, high chimney stacks will ticulate matter. be used to ensure that emissions are well dis­ persed and diluted before reaching ground 3.6.2.6 Other Particulate Matter from Power level. Station Chimney The air quality standards, as shown in Table 9, Mathematical formulae have been developed to only refer to airborne particulate matter under facilitate the calculation of the buoyancy rise 20 J.Lm. Particulates greater than 20 J.Lm in and dispersion of chimney plumes and the diameter emitted from the power station chim­ evaluation of the ground level concentration of neys will fall to the ground mainly inside the gases. Such methods have achieved a high project area. degree of reliability as a result of extensive programs of research into this aspect of An examination of the mean measured dust chimney performance carried out by various deposition rates in the Lay Yang area indicates authorities around the world. The particular for­ that, after correction to bring them into line with mulae used by the Commission have been Environment Protection Authority type gauge developed by the Central Electricity Generating observations, the background level is about 50 Board in the UK where millions of measure­ mg m-2d"1 in the regions most affected by the ments have been made around some 80 major power station. As the contribution has been power stations burning black coal, fuel oil and calculated to be 30 mg m->d-' for the 2000 MW natural gas. stage and 50 mg m ->d-1 for the 4000 MW development, the combined maximum is 80 mg Investigations are continuing into alternative m-zd-' in the former case and 100 mg m->d-' for chimney arrangements for the Loy Yang power the latter. These levels lie inside the tentative station and it is expected that chimneys in the standard of 130 mg m-2d-'. range of 200 m to 260 m high will be required to ensure that emissions would reach the ground lt should be pointed out that these maxima fall in very low concentrations and meet air quality well inside the project area and the effect at the standards. In this report, a chimney height of nearest part of Traralgon is minimal. The con­ 260 m has been adopted. trol of dust deposition rate from a 4000 MW pro­ ject to levels such that even the localised max­ 3.6.2.5 Comparison with Air Quality imum is only equal to the general rural dust Standards fallout in the area is considered to provide a Table 9 shows a comparison of the calculated more than adequate safeguard against adverse ground level concentrations (glc) of N02. S02 environmental impact, particularly when it is and airborne particulate matter (under 20 J.Lm) recognised that the dust itself is quite in­ resulting from the Lay Yang power stations with nocuous.

52 TABLE 9 GROUND LEVEL CONCENTRATIONS OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE, NITROGEN DIOXIDE, AND PARTICULATE MATTER -!-Lg/m3

ITEM CALCULATED glc FROM LOYYANG POWER STATIONS (5) AIR QUALITY STANDARDS Design Expectations Most Adverse Case USEPA WHO 2000 MW 4000MW 2000 MW 4000MW Primary Secondary Long-Term Goals SULPHUR DIOXIDE PERIOD 3 hours 65 100 125 219 1300 (1) 24 hours 38 46 76 122 365 (2) 260 (2) 200(3) 1 year 31 32 31 32 80 (1) 60(1) 60 NITROGEN DIOXIDE PERIOD 1 year 22 23 22 23 100 (1) 100 (1) PARTICULATE MATTER Suspend~d {Less than 20 1-Lm) PERIOD 24 hours 41 43 43 45 260 (2) 150 (2) 120 (S) 1 year 40 40 40 40 75 (4) 60 (4) 40

NOTES 1 Arithmetic mean. 2 Not to be exceeded more than once per year. 3 98% of observations to be below. 4 Geometric mean. 3 3 5 Figures include background levels. i.e. so2 30/4j/m , N02 = 20;:eg/m I particulate 3 matter= 40ftg/m .

In the event that the most likely source of error, A buffer zone around the open cut will further the size distribution of the dust, has been poorly reduce any dust nuisance to nearby areas. estimated, the dust deposition rates will still pose no serious nuisance problem. A finer dust 3.6.2.8 Vapour Plume from Cooling Towers will simply reduce fallout everywhere. A The four natural draft cooling towers associ­ coarser dust will produce a rapid rise in fallout ated with the initial 2000 MW power station will rate but this will be heavily concentrated within emit some 36 000 m3 /S of air and water vapour. the project boundary and increases outside this region will either be slight or there may even be Under typical operating conditions, the tem­ a decrease, depending on the size distribution perature of the warm moist air leaving the cool­ of the dust. Such a situation would not adver­ ing tower will be about 17°C above ambient sely effect people around Loy Yang and the temperature. This temperature difference could condition would, in any event, be expeditiously vary by ±5°C depending on prevailing rectified. meteorological conditions. Under most at­ mospheric conditions the warm moist air emit­ ted from the cooling towers would produce a 3.6.2. 7 Dust white plume of water vapour, but this would During construction of Loy Yang, any dust nui­ rarely, if ever, come to ground. sance from unsealed roads or car parks will be minimised by using crushed rock construction Based on local and overseas experience, as and by watering. All main roads and permanent well as some results from mathematical and car parks will be sealed and kept clean. The physical model studies by the Commission, it is road verges will be either watered or grassed to indicated that little change in local rainfall, reduce dust. sunshine or the incidence of fog due to the operation of the Lay Yang towers will occur. To minimise dust from the open cut, the coal levels and batters will be sprayed with water 3.6.2.9 Monitoring using the equipment installed for fire protection Discharges to air from the power station will be purposes. Between the power station and the monitored using: storage bunker, the coal conveyors will be enclosed in a gallery which will minimise the • Flue gas analysers for oxygen, nitrogen ox­ emission of dust. ides, sulphur dioxide and combustibles.

53 • Flue gas obscurity monitoring systems at • Gas turbine plant, including fans, air intake the inlet to each induced draft fan. and exhaust systems.

• Closed circuit TV monitoring of chimney. • Open cut plant, including dredgers and conveyor systems. Monitoring of air quality in the area has been carried out for some time and the system con­ sists of ten fixed gauging stations and a mobile 3. 7.3 Noise Limits laboratory measuring sulphur dioxide, airborne Emission of noise from the Loy Yang project particulates and nitrogen oxides (as nitrogen will be controlled to meet regulatory require­ ments. For the initial evaluation of noise use dioxide). This will be continued during the con­ has been made of the EPA Draft Protection struction of the project and its subsequent operation. Policy No N1 as regards to acceptable noise levels. Table No 11 shows the noise levels recommended by this policy during week days, 3.7 Noise and Ground Vibration week-ends and public holidays within subur­ 3.7.1 General ban areas with some commerce or industry or As all plant specifications will incorporate adjacent to dense transportation (R4) which noise limitation clauses which were not in­ would apply to major portion of the Loy Yang cluded at the time of ordering plant for Yallourn project boundary. W Stage 1 {the Commission's newest operating station}, it is expected that noise emanating The following measures will be adopted for the from the Lay Yang stations will be lower than Loy Yang project to meet the acceptable noise that from Yallourn W, Stage 1. levels for the major portion of the project boun­ dary: Calculations, based on measurements taken around Yallourn W and the Morwell open cut, • Inclusion of noise level limit clauses in all show that noise level at the boundary adjoining plant specifications. (These clauses would Traralgon will be consistent with that specified also meet the requirements of the Commis­ in the Australian Standard AS1055-1973 for sion's Hearing Conservation Program.) "suburban areas with some commerce or in­ dustry or adjacent to dense transportation". • Use of Standards Association of Australia (SAA), International Organisation for Stan­ 3.7.2 Noise Sources dardisation (ISO), and manufacturers' The major noise sources which could be codes, where appropriate, to specify noise associated with a large brown coal project such limits for some plant. as Lay Yang, covering the power station, gas turbine auxiliary installation and the open cut • Use of noise control equipment to suppress are shown below: noise from the fluid discharges of safety valves, blow-down receivers and gas tur­ • Boiler plant, including fans, mills, blow­ bines. down receivers and safety valves. • Use of acoustically designed barriers, • Turbo-generator plant, including pumps, enclosures around various plants and blow-down receivers and cooling towers. buildings.

• Electrical plant, including transformers and • Incorporation of a buffer zone within the circuit breakers. project boundary.

TABLE 11 SECTION OF EPA DRAFT PROTECTION POLICY NO N1

Zone Description Acceptable Noise Level dBA of Area Monday- Friday Week-ends or Public Holidays 7 am- 6 pm- 10 pm- 6 am- 7 am- 6 pm- 10 pm- 6 pm 10 pm 6 am 7 am 6pm 10pm 7 am R4 Suburban areas with some commerce or industry or adjacent to dense transportation 60 50 45 50 55 50 45

54 3.7 .4 Noise During Construction zone, particularly from the public roads or high­ Every care will be taken to minimise the noise er ground to the north of the project. during the construction period. Site excava­ tions will be carried out with minimum use of The planning of the project has taken account explosives and contractors would be required of the need for a careful and sensitive approach to maintain construction equipment in good to the maintenance of an aesthetically pleasing order to keep noise to a minimum. The pro­ environment. posed construction sites, for both power station and coal dredgers, will be some 4 km from the The overall visual impact from outside the pro­ nearest boundary of the Traralgon township. ject boundary will be softened by the distances involved and the back drop of timbered land on 3.7.5 Intermittent Noise the hills to the south and extensive grazing land The testing and operating of steam safety in other directions. valves, emergency operation of boiler and turb­ ine blow-down and the operation of the 500 kV During the life of the project, landscape plan­ circuit breakers will represent the most signifi­ ning will be directed towards blendrng the pro­ cant sources of intermittent noise. ject with the adjacent environment, bearing in mind that the project components themselves The maximum noise level that will be allowed to become new landscape forms which will be be generated by the safety valves, blow-down features of interest. discharges and circuit breakers will be con­ trolled by noise level limit clauses included in The power station area is a centre which will be the plant specifications. given special consideration in design to pro­ vide an aesthetically pleasing appearance 3.7.6 Ground Vibration while retaining its functional use. Construction The use of modern design techniques and activities will be a feature of the power station island foundations for power station plant will sites for nearly 20 years. Each unit will take up ensure that vibration from the station will be to 6 years to commission from the time the site kept to a minimum and will have no effect out­ works commence and as these construction side the project boundary. The concrete floor in periods will overlap, an impression of un­ the turbine house will be physically separated finished activity will exist over much of the site from the turbo-generator foundation blocks. for many years. The foundations of auxiliary plant such as fans and boiler feed pumps will aJso be separated. The open cut will become a new topographical feature as it extends in area and depth across 3.7 .7 Monitoring the shallow depression forming the present An extensive ambient noise monitoring headwaters of Sheepwash Creek. The regular program has already been established at Loy outline and essentially dark colour of the open Yang. This program is aimed at determining the cut excavation will provide a spectacular con­ existing ambient noise level at a number of trast to the greenish-brown tonings of the sur­ locations within the project boundary and sites roundings cleared grazing area. within the city of Traralgon. The monitoring program will be continued after the power sta­ Beyond the power station the initial external tion project becomes commercially opera­ overburden dump will fill the shallow valley tional. astride the south Callignee Road and form a Vibration measurement have been made adja­ new topographical feature almost level with the cent to existing power stations and open cuts in existing ridge on which the power stations are Latrobe Valley. In addition, the existing am­ to be located. The dump will blend with the ex­ bient ground vibration levels at a number of isting topography along Traralgon Creek and locations around the Loy Yang site boundaries will be planted to blend and conform with the and in the Traralgon township will be existing flora. The dump witl be constructed in measured. stages and planted progressively so that only portions of raw dump will exist at any stage of 3.8 Appearance the 20-year construction period. The Loy Yang project will form a complex of major buildings and engineering works provid­ Transmission lines and other services, par­ ing a complete visual contrast to the essentially ticularly roadworks, will also change the essen­ continuous character of the open rural land­ tially rural character of some of the areas ap­ scape. proaching the project. Transmission lines with their associated towers cannot be concealed The scale of the major project components is and routes will be selected with a view to such that they become new landscape features minimising their visual impact on the surround­ visible from many areas well beyond the buffer ing countryside.

55 4 NEED FOR LOY YANG PROJECT demographers, while the growth in energy 4.1 Load Growth generation per capita reflects the estimated in­ Over the last 15 years the coincident maximum creases in electricity usage in the industrial, demand for electricity in Victoria has grown at commercial and domestic sectors and in the an average rate of about 6. 7% pa, and the present strongly competitive energy markets energy generated has grown at about 7.8% pa. with respect to natural gas and oil fuels. Over the same period, the growth in the State's The load forecasts produced annually by the population has been about 1.8% pa and the Commission are built up from detailed analysis growth in energy generated per capita has of the various sectors of the energy market and been about 5.9% pa. market saturation, together with consideration The Commission's forecast of electricity re­ of population trends, regional growth, ap­ quirements is shown in Table 12. pliance development and possible changes in energy usage.

Figure 36 indicates the application of this infor­ TABLE12 mation and the many actions taken through ESTIMATED FUTURE MAXIMUM several forecasting methods to arrive at the DEMAND AND ENERGY GENERATION final result. The forecasting methods fall Financial Estimated Estimated System Load Year Ended Maximum Energy Factor broadly into 3 separate assessments: 30 June Demand for Requirement Winter at end • The projection of past data after modifica­ of Financial tion and correction for significant events. Year This data is weighted in accordance with MW GWh % time so that the most recent information has 1976 3650 18500 57 1977 3900 19 500 58 the greatest significance. 1978 4100 21 000 58 1979 4350 22 500 59 • The evaluation of likely trends of indepen­ 1980 4600 23500 59 dent variables related to electricity use. 1981 4950 25500 59 These include gross domestic product, 1982 5250 28000 60 population and total energy requirements, 1983 5600 29 500 61 1984 5900 31500 61 together with an assessment of the share of 1985 6300 33500 61 the market, having regard to other fuels and 1986 6700 36000 61 energy sources which are available. 1987 7100 38000 61 1988 7550 40500 62 • Analysis of requirements by market seg­ 1989 8000 43500 62 ments including customer categories and 1990 8550 46000 62 1991 9050 40000 62 geographical areas, e.g., appliance usage 1992 9600 52500 62 and saturation in the domestic sector.

Before adopting the sales forecast, the Com­ The table shows that the maximum demand is mission applies judgement and experience to estimated to increase by 5950 MW from 1976 to weigh the results from each method. Con­ 1992 and that the estimated electricity require­ sideration is also given to generation require­ ments increased by 34 000 GWh from the pre­ ments, as shown in Fig 36, in order to arrive at sent level of 18 500 GWh. This electricity re­ the total generation of energy required, includ­ quirement is only slightly higher than the "low ing system losses and works energy, to satisfy level" forecast contained in the Government's the sales forecast. White Paper (Part 1), Summary of Victorian Energy Resources and Estimated Require­ The adequacy of planning for additions to the ments 1974-2004, prepared by the Ministry of electricity supply system is continually Fuel and Power in December 1974. reviewed against these load forecasts. Too much plant or the wrong balance of plant would The Commission's estimates of energy genera­ result in the cost of electricity being un­ tion provide for an annual growth rate over the necessarily high. Too little plant would pre­ 15 years to 1990 of about 6.6% (compared with judice supply reliability and could make 7.8% over the past 15 years). This growth is unavoidable the imposition of restrictions on based on an average growth in population of the use of electrical energy. 1.2% pa and in energy generation per capita of about 5.4% pa (compared with 1.8% and 5.9%, Forecasting the rate of growth of requirements respectively, over the past 15 years). for electricity requires the exercise of con­ siderable skill and judgement. Estimates must The population growth rate allowed for is at the be made many years ahead because of the long lower end of the range used by other times involved in planning and constructing

56 new major facilities, but errors in forecasting more, it is essential to insure against possible can be met by adjustment of the plant program. delays in the construction program. For example, a reduction in load growth of 1% pa (an error of 16% over a period of 15 years) In 1965, when recommending additions to the would only delay the need for a new generating power stations at Hazelwood and Yallourn, the unit by 1 or 2 years. The problems of forecast­ Commission indicated its aim to maintain, in ing are compounded at present by social each year, a reserve margin of capacity of at change and by instabilities in the general least 15% (expressed as a percentage of the economy. Conservation interests are pressing maximum demand for the year). Although this for cut-backs in the rate of depletion of non­ target has been achieved and exceeded in sub­ renewable sources of energy and for movement sequent years, the Commission has neverthe­ toward development of "self-replenishing" less experienced considerable difficulty in sources. On the other hand, growing realisa­ meeting the load at times due to breakdowns tion of the likely exhaustion of the world's oil and operating problems, more particularly with and natural gas resources within a few decades its newer and larger plant. In this regard, due has stimulated many pronouncements that re­ cognisance must be taken of the increased quirements for electricity will accelerate, par­ complexity of boilers burning high moisture ticularly in the field of transportation. However, content low grade fuel and the greater since such changes will occur slowly, if at all, downtime required for boiler cleaning com­ the constant surveillance maintained by the pared with more orthodox plant used elsewhere Commission will ensure that programs are ad­ in the world. justed so as to meet the interests of the Vic­ In 1964, the Federal Power Commission in torian electricity customers. America concluded in a power survey of the 4.2 Reserve Generating Capacity contiguous systems in the United States that an Reserve generating capacity is needed not only average reserve margin of 15% was sufficient. to provide for routine plant outage such as The year 1969, when the average reserve boiler cleaning but also for breakdowns and margin had reduced to 16.6% from previously adverse operating conditions, and to cover higher levels, was marked by severe problems effects on the system load of extreme weather including voltage reductions and load curtail­ conditions and unexpected growth. Further- ments, and in its 1970 Power Survey the Federal

SALESFOR[CAST TOTAL SYSTEM ELECTRICITY DEMAND ANOENERGYFORECASTS

ELECTRICITY LOAD FORECASTING FLOW DIAGRAM

FIG. 36

57 Power Commission revised its recommenda­ system is determined broadly by the require­ tion for reserve margin to 20% in view of the in­ ment for electrical energy over the whole of the dustry's increasing dependence on large and year, the maximum coincident demand for complex generating units. In 1973, one of the power, and the performance achievable by the main industry journals "Electrical World" generating plant. reported the view of the industry itself that a In these considerations, the annual load factor, reserve margin of somewhat more than 20% the ratio of average demand over the whole was necessary. year to the maximum demand for the year, has The US findings, together with reports from considerable bearing. However, when actual other parts of the world, confirm the experience plant performance is taken into account, of the Commission. The need to carry higher especially for the very large units and when reserve margins appears to be an inescapable maintenance can be scheduled so as to match system requirements, this effect is significantly outcome of the increasing scale of operation reduced. Currently, the Victorian system has a set by requirements for electricity. However, relatively high load factor of some 60%. This despite this need to increase reserve margin, high level of load factor is attributable to a large economic analysis of capital and operating costs continues to show the benefit of installing extent to the modification of peak demands by generating units of sizes as large as are tech­ the consistent encouragement over many years nically feasible for the power system con­ of off-peak use of electricity. cerned. With yearly system load factors predicted to be Whilst the percentage reserve margin is com­ in excess of 60% in future years, it has been monly used as an index of the adequacy of in­ determined from simulation studies of system stalled plant to meet all loading conditions, a operation that, by the late 1980's, some 85% of particular figure cannot be fastened on as hav­ energy will need to be generated by base load ing intrinsic merit. Rather, the necessary plant operating with annual load factors greater reserve margin is the outcome of detailed than 60%. The remaining energy, amounting to studies on probability of loss of load which take about 15% of the total system requirements, account of the ranges of probable load and will be supplied by other plant- peaking plant plant operating conditions as well as the most and energy reserve plant. appropriate mixture of various types of plant. Table 14 summarises the energy generated by The loss of load probability index currently in the various plant types, that is, base load and use by most major supply authorities other plant, to satisfy system energy require­ throughout the world has been adopted. From ments in future years up to 1992. The table the tables discussed in the next section, it will shqws that current and approved base load pro­ be seen that the reserve margin expected to be jects are expected to produce the major part of maintained through the next decade and the base load system requirements until the beyond will be in the range 20% to 25% of max­ 1990's, but this will gradually diminish in pro­ imum demand. portion as Loy Yang develops. The table also shows the importance of the output from 4.3 System Plant Requirements Newport D in supplying some 3000-4000 GWh Table 13 shows the generating plant capacities of the other plant output for balancing and segregated into base and other plant of the ex­ regulating the total demand. isting, approved and new plant required up to 1992 in order to meet electricity demand with a 4.3.1 Peak Load Plant high degree of reliability of supply. Sufficient peaking plant is required to meet the In order to gauge the adequacy of reserve plant fluctuating component of the system load and provided, the table indicates possible con­ must be capable of rapid changes in output. tingencies of plant outages, allowances for ad­ Under contingency conditions, such as when verse weather and for additional load growth base load plant is out of service, peak plant may above that forecast. The amount of load which need to maintain sustained output over long may be interrupted for short periods at the periods. Alcoa plant at Point Henry is also indicated. The large portion of Victoria's current peaking plant capacity is provided by hydro-electric sta­ The reserve capacity also provides a reserve of tions, including Victoria's share of the Snowy energy capability to cover reduction of hydro­ Mountains Scheme, but virtually all the availa­ electric output in drought years and possible ble hydro-electric potential in south-east growth of energy requirements in excess of ex­ Australia has now been developed. Whilst the pectations. installed ~ydro-electric capacity is substantial, The amoun.t and type of generating plant which its ability to produce energy is relatively small should be installed on the Commission's and is limited by the annual inflow of the catch-

58 ments. As a result this plant is operated to max­ gas turbines, and investigations are continuing imum advantage in peak shaving and spinning to resolve major aspects associated with the in­ reserve mode rather than for sustained energy stallation of these plant types. This plant will be production. the subject of a separate submission.

The 1000 MW Newport Power Station was selected to fulfill an intermediate role by provid­ 4.3.2 Base Load Plant ing both the added energy reserve and capacity Sufficient base load plant is required to meet reserve needed for the system with a steadily the steady load component on the system and growing load and limited hydro-electric input. must be capable of operating continuously at This station is a vital part of plans for expansion high output with a high level of availability. In of the Commission's generating system and general, base load plant does not have the flex­ should be brought into service at the earliest ibility for rapid load changes, but ability to practicable date. operate at low part loading will be required in the future system and an intensive investigation The only other approved peaking plant is the is being made into how this can be achieved 150 MW power station at Dartmouth which is with boilers burning low grade high moisture scheduled for completion in 1980. content brown coal.

In addition to these approved plants, With base load plant supplying some 85% of progressive installation of new peak plant will the total electrical energy it is important to be required during the 1980's up to a possible achieve the lowest practicable cost of produc­ total of 1650 MW by the time of completion of tion, and this entails the use of low cost primary the Lay Yang project in 1992. New peak plant energy sources and the optimum degree of can be either pumped storage hydro-electric, or economy of scale with the plant adopted.

TABLE13 CONTRIBUTION TO FORECAST MAXIMUM DEMAND GENERATING PLANT CAPACITIES (MW) (to nearest 50 MW)

YEAR ENDING 30 JUNE 1976 1981 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Base Plant Existing 2 950 2 900 2 900 2 900 2 900 2900 2900 2850 2 800 2 800 2 2750 Approved- Yallourn W Stage2 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 LOYYANG 500 1000 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 Other Plant- Existing 1 600 1 300 1 300 1 300 1 300 1 300 1 300 1 300 1 300 1 300 1 300 Approved Newport and Dartmouth 1 150 1 150 1 150 1 150 1 150 1 150 1150 1150 1 150 1150 New (yet to be approved 450 650 850 1 050 1 250 1 250 1 250 1 450 1 650 ------TOTAL CAPACITY 4 550 6100 7050 7 750 7950 8 650 9 350 9 800 10 250 10 950 11 600 ------System m.d. -Winter 3650 4950 5900 6300 6 700 7100 7 550 8 000 8 550 9 050 9 600 Margin of Plant for Contingencies 900 1 150 1150 1 450 1 250 1 550 1 800 1 800 1 700 1 900 2 000 Reserve Margin (%of m.d.) 25 23 20 23 19 22 24 23 20 21 21 Contingencies- Overlapping outage of 2 largest units 700 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 000 Allowance for adverse weather and economic conditions 150 250 300 350 350 350 400 400 450 450 500 Allowance for unforeseen load growth 150 250 300 300 300 350 350 400 400 450 450 Interruptible load -100 -100 -200 -200 -200 -200 -200 -200 -200 -200 -200

59 TABLE 14 CONTRIBUTION TO FORECAST ENERGY REQUIREMENTS GENERATING SYSTEM ENERGY BALANCE (Rounded to Nearest 500 GWh) YEAR ENDING 30 JUNE 1976 1981 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 System Requirements­ Victorian Load 18 500 25 500 31 500 33 500 36 000 38 000 40 500 43 500 46 000 49 000 52 500 Hydro Electric Pumping (4) 500 500 500 1 000 1 000 1 500 1 500 1 500 2 000 2 000 2 000

TOTAL 19 000 26 000 32 000 34 500 37 000 39 500 42 000 45 000 48 000 51 000 54 500

Generation - Base Plant Existing 16 000 17 500 17 500 18 000 18 000 18 000 18 000 17 500 17 000 17 000 16 500 Approved (1) - 4 000 5 000 5 000 5 500 5 500 5 500 5 500 5 500 5 000 5 000 LOYYANG (2) 3 000 4 500 6 500 7 500 11 000 14 500 18 000 21 500 25 000 ------SUBTOTAL 16 000 21 500 25 500 27 500 30 000 31 000 34 500 37 500 40 500 43 500 46 500 Other Plant­ Existing 3~2~2~2~2~2~2~2~2~2~2~ Approved (3) 2~4~4~4~5~4~4~4~3~4~ New (4) 500 500 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 000 1 500 1 500 ------SUBTOTAL 3 000 4 500 6 500 7 000 7 000 8 500 7 500 7 500 7 500 7 500 8 000 ------TOTAL 19 000 26 000 32 000 34 500 37 000 39 500 42 000 45 000 48 000 51 000 54 500 ------Base Plant as %of Total 84 83 80 80 81 78 82 83 84 85 85

NOTES: 1 The approved base load generating plant not yet installed comprises 750 MW at Yallourn W. 2 Based on 500 MW units installed in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992. 3 Energy produced mainly from Newport D, but also including Dartmouth Power Station. 4 Based on hydro-electric pumped storage plant which requires more input of energy for pumping than the output it generates.

At present, all of the base load energy in the Victorian system is generated using brown coal in power stations at Yallourn, Morwell and Hazelwood. 5 SIZE OF THE LOY YANG PROJECT The second stage of Yallourn W, under con­ The balance of coal reserves, rate of system struction, and planned to be completed in 1980, growth, size of excavating and generating will further supplement base load energy pro­ plant, number of operating units to achieve duction. effective working groups, the time span of development, are all important to the objective Beyond 1980, some 4000 MW of new base load of achieving a safe, economic and effective plant is needed to be installed to satisfy growth supply of electricity from the project. The 4000 in energy up to 1992 with the first increment of MW Loy Yang project represents a careful capacity being added to the system in 1983. balance of all of these factors as discussed below. The Loy Yang project, with 8-500 MW units in­ stalled from 1983 to 1992, will meet the require­ 5.1 Coal Reserves ment for increased base load electricity The extensive geological investigations have generation and is considered to be the most identified readily recoverable and marginal economic and effective means of providing for reserves totalling 4700 million tonnes in the Loy this requirement. Yang area. Part of these reserves underly the

60 Traralgon Creek and Flynn's Creek valleys, minimum number of large excavator/transport while the remaining central core contains suffi­ units consistent with the level of supply cient coal to support at least 12 000 MW of base reliability required. Very large excavators are in load generation. service overseas, larger in fact than those pro­ posed for Lay Yang, so that plant selection is On present estimates such a development limited only by the expected coal output plan­ would not be fully utilised until beyond the end ned from the open cut and the overall of this century and it is impractical to consider economies of the operation. the full development in the context of a single project. To achieve benefits of economy of The Commission has always relied heavily on scale, it is desirable to install the largest units the developments in Germany of large excavat­ of plant which the system can accept without ing plant which, under the German coalfield degradation of reliability of supply and to plan conditions, has been directed at increasing expansion over a sufficiently long period to effectiveness of removing overburden which allow a major project to be established. Subs­ represents over 75% of total material handled. tantial capital investment is required to initiate Although in Victoria the position is reversed a large open cut and power station, and it is im­ with very favourable coal/overburden ratios, the portant that the project be of sufficient size that developments in Germany are particularly im­ the cost of establishing open cut and transmis­ portant for the effective excavation of the deep sion works and common services such as coal seams in the Latrobe Valley (up to 200 roads, water supply, workshops, and the like, metres at Lay Yang). be spread over enough generating capacity to Bucketwheel dredgers capable of excavating achieve minimum cost of electricity. coal at about 3500 tonnes per hour provide an The coalfield can be conveniently divided into optimum economic arrangement with four two economic open cuts, Loy Yang and Flynn, dredgers removing overburden and interseam each with some 1000 Mt of low cost coal sediments and winning coal on a reliable basis reserves and capable of supporting 4000 MW of for a 4000 MW project. These dredgers are generating plant. A further 4000 MW of generat­ about twice the size of the largest units cur­ ing plant could be fuelled at a somewhat higher rently in service at Yallourn and Morwell. cost from the economic reserves of the two fields. 5.4 Size of Generating Units The capital cost per kilowatt of generating plant The Loy Yang 4000 MW project makes an effec­ reduces with increasing size of units and there tive initial use of the coal resources in the area. is, therefore, an advantage of reducing plant capital costs in selecting the largest practical 5.2 Project Time Span size of unit for a generation project. As shown in Tables 13 and 14 some 4000 MW of new base load generating plant needs to be Operating costs are also reduced by using a brought into service in the period 1983 to 1992. smaller number of units for a required total pro­ ject capacity. The construction of a 4000 MW development will commence in 1977 and continue for 16 The installation of unduly large units in relation years until its completion in 1993. Such a time to the total capacity of the interconnected span will permit the development of the project generating system would necessitate an unduly in an orderly way so as to achieve a high level high reserve margin to provide for substitute of performance of plant and to foster good rela­ energy when the larger units are unavailable for tions with community groups, the workforce service. Furthermore the maximum size of a and the many contractors who will be engaged unit is governed by the ability of the system to in the various aspects of the job as well as with withstand the transient disturbance caused by local community groups. the unscheduled tripping of that unit and this places a limit of not much more than 500 MW on 5.3 Open Cut Capacity and Plant units on our system until the mid-1980's. The selection of coal winning plant for the open cut involves a proper balance between the Turbine-generators have been developed over­ nature of the coal deposit, the daily and annual seas to much larger sizes than are needed for output, the rate of growth of this coal demand Victoria. 500 MW units have been selected for and coal supply reliability. For a 4000 MW Loy the Newport Power Station, and 500 MW units Yang development the coal demand will build are operating at the Electricity Commission of up to 120 000 tonnes/day (37 million tonnes per NSW power station at Liddell. Turbine-genera­ year) over the 10 year period. tors are not a limitation in the selection of unit size and a great deal of expertise in the design Economy of brown coal winning for electricity and manufacture of these plants is available in generation is achieved by the use of the many countries.

61 The development of boilers for the Victorian • The adoption of 500 MW units from the out­ brown coals is, however, a problem unique to set will provide maximum opportunity for Victoria. Some guidance on burning of low rank successful development of plant to be used coals is available overseas, particularly in Ger­ for the 4000 MW project. many where extensive brown coal develop­ ments have taken place and brown coal boilers • The adoption of 500 MW units for the initial of 600 MW capacity are now installed. stage will provide better opportunity for in­ troduction of changes to power station The development of large brown coal boilers in organisation aimed at reducing operating Victoria started with Yallourn E in 1961 where costs and more effective management of the 120 MW size selected was a substantial plant. step-up from the previous boiler size of about 20 MW. Steady progress has since been made 5.5 Station Size with 200 MW boilers at Hazelwood from 1964 The physical distances involved in a power sta­ burning the very difficult Morwell coal then 350 tion impose problems in operation, mainte­ MW boilers at Yallourn Win 1973. nance and control. Hazelwood Power Station, originally planned to have six units and later The 500 MW boilers for Loy Yang will be some­ extended to eight units, has experienced what larger in physical dimensions, but, difficulties arising from the physical extent of because of better coal quality, will consume the station and associated problems of ad­ only marginally greater quantities of coal than ministration and supervision. the Yallourn W 350-375 MW boilers. The struc­ tures, pulverising mills, fans and other compo­ Commission experience in its power stations nents and equipment will all be within the limits leads to the conclusion that a group of four of sizes already developed for the West German units represents an ideal arrangement in which 600 MW boilers. On this basis it is considered all of the engineering, operating, maintenance that there would be no significant risk in select­ and service activities can be concentrated to ing 500 MW boilers for Loy Yang. produce an effective operating group. Although power stations around the world have a wide The incremental system energy requirements in variety in the number of units installed, there is the early 1980's approximate to 2000 also a general consensus that four units pro­ GWh/annum which correspond to the output vides the optimum basis for effective manage­ expected from a 350 MW base load generating ment and economy. unit. By the late 1980's to early 1990's the system energy growth rate is some 3000 5.6 Project Size GWh/annum equivalent to the output from a 500 A 4000MW project with two 2000 MW power MW base load unit. stations is desirable if the costs of establish­ ment of the project are to be adequately dis­ System expansion programs were developed, tributed and minimum cost of generation is to including the alternatives of initial annual in­ be achieved and, with four excavating units, the crements of 350 MW units, and biennial incre­ open cut will be well balanced, and optimised ments of 500 MW units, followed, in both cases, in cost. by annual increments of 500 MW units, and it wa~ established that development on the basis Unless there is a clear basis for a minimum size of 500 MW units throughout would be at least of project, there is a great risk that the project 10% cheaper than starting with the 350 MW will end up either over-capitalised for too small units. This cost advantage was applicable to a generating capacity, or under-equipped or both capital investment (per kW installed) and wrongly structured for an ultimate development operating cost (per kWh of energy generated) of larger size. and more than offset any expenditure which might be required for additional peaking plant The adoption of a significantly larger project in the system to maintain reliability of electricity would require an unduly long time before any supply during the early years of introduction of further benefits of scale would be obtained and the larger units. is not regarded as feasible at this stage.

The most economic unit size for Loy Yang is A smaller project means that open cut plant, 500 MW and other advantages in favour of this transmission and associated services, includ­ size are: ing water supply, roads and construction facilities, will not be adequately utilised. The • The smaller number of larger 500 MW units time scale is however sufficiently flexible to required will simplify management and permit adjustment if necessary due to changes organisation at all stages. in system growth.

62 ~AL£ 0 S ~0 20 3C ioC 50

KILOMETRES

I?EADILY RECOVERABLE BROWN COAL DEPOSITS

GEOLOGICAL BROWN COAL DEPOSITS

VICTORIAN BROWN COAL DEPOSITS FIG. 37

6 ALTERNATIVE FUEL OPTIONS FOR A The most favourably located brown coal 4000 MW PROJECT deposits in the Latrobe Valley which can be 6.1 Brown Coal recovered under current economic and tech­ With the commitment of coal reserves available nological conditions, after allowing for practi­ from the Yallourn and Morwell open cuts for the cal coal winning considerations such as depth present undertakings it has been necessary to of open cut and slope of side batters, are esti­ review the scope of development of the remain­ mated at nearly 12 000 million tonnes. These ing coal reserves in the Latrobe Valley. coal reserves only include large deposits which would satisfy the requirements of a modern Substantial reserves of brown coal exist in Vic­ base load power station of at least 1000 MW toria with the major deposits located in the and allow for the maintenance of a major ac­ Latrobe Valley and smaller deposits at Gellion­ cess corridor for the Princes Highway and dale, Anglesea and Bacchus Marsh (as shown Eastern Railway. In order to win these coal in Fig 37). The Latrobe Valley deposits repre­ reserves some deviations of the Morwell River, sent about 90% of the total geological reserves Traralgon and Flynn's Creeks would be re­ of brown coal in Victoria which are estimated at quired to release the coal under the river bed about 120 000 million tonnes. and flood plain.

Extensive geological investigations carried out At the present time brown coal is being used in by the Commission over more than 30 years in­ the Latrobe Valley to generate electricity at dicate that the brown coal seams in the Latrobe Ya11ourn, Morwell and Hazelwood, to manufac­ Valley extend continuously from Yallourn to ture briquettes at Morwell and for other small near Sale. On a geological basis, the brown industrial uses such as in the Australian Paper coat reserves in the Latrobe Valley are esti­ Manufacturers works at Maryvale. In 1973/74, mated at nearly 110 000 million tonnes of which some 25 million tonnes of brown coal were won some 65 000 million tonnes are proven and the in the Latrobe Valley, bringing the total coal remainder inferred. won in this area to date to about 450 million tonnes or less than '/2% of the total reserves in Although tile geological reserves of brown coal the Latrobe Valley. in the Latrobe Valley are large, there are only limited areas of thick coal seams near the sur­ A modern 2000 MW base load power station face where major coal winning undertakings operating over a 30-year life requires a commit­ may be economically located. ment of about 500 to 600 million tonnes of

63 brown coal depending on the quality of the As the local uranium reserves are very large, coal. nuclear plant could be used to meet some of the future needs for base load generation in Vic­ Ample reserves of brown coal are available in toria. However, as uranium is readily export­ the Latrobe Valley to supply the future require­ able, the reserves may be developed for use ments for base load generation for many outside Australia. decades. In addition, reserves of brown coal would also be available for uses other than for 6.3 Natural Gas power generation such as for the manufacture Dr C Hetherington, in his report to the State of briquettes and char, and the possible conver­ Government in March 1966, stated the ultimate sion to liquid fuel and other products. natural gas reserve in the Gippsland, Otway and Bass basins could be at least 15 trillion The use of brown coal for Commission's pur­ (1012 cu ft) and could be considerably higher poses is recognised in the SEC Act 1958 (No (up to 60 trillion cu ft). 6377) as amended, by providing for acquisition of land in the Latrobe Valley as stated in Sec­ The Statistical Review No 8 of the Petroleum tion 23 (i) as follows: and Gas lndisutries in Victoria, published by "For the purposes of this Act, the Commis­ the Ministry of Fuel and Power in mid 1975, sion may acquire and take for the Crown by shows the natural gas reserves in Victorian agreement or compulsorily such lands in offshore fields in Bass Strait at 8.0 trillion cu ft. the township of Morwell or within a radius lt is estimated that these reserves would meet of thirty-two kilometres therefrom as the contractual gas requirements for domestic, Governor in Council from time to time by commercial and industrial uses for the next Order directs; and all lands so acquired and three to four decades. This estimate includes taken shall thereupon become and be the gas requirements for the regulating station deemed to be unalienated lands of the at Newport. Crown." The natural gas requirements for a 4000 MW 6.2 Nuclear Fuel base load power station over a 30-year operat­ The 1974/75 Annual Report of the Australian ing life are estimated at about 10.0 trillion cu ft. Atomic Energy Commission states: Having regard to the extent of natural gas "At 30 June 1975, Australia had reasonably reserves proven so far, there is insufficient gas assured and estimated additional resources available for further power station use. of uranium, recoverable at up to $A20 per kilogram uranium, totalling 323 000 tonnes. 6.4 Oil Of this total about 70% occurs in the North­ Proven and probable crude oil reserves in ern Territory. Australia, including gas liquids, were estimated by the Department of Minerals and Energy at These resources can be categorised as follows: about 3000 million barrels. Some 70% of these reasonably assured resources recoverable at reserves (approximately 2000 million barrels) less than $A20 per kilogram uranium, 184 000 are present in the offshore Gippsland field in tonnes uranium, plus estimated additional Victoria and consist of some 1400 million bar­ resources of 34 000 tonnes; reasonably assured rels of crude oil and some 600 million barrels of resources recoverable at between $A20 and gas liquids. $A30 per kilogram uranium, 59 000 tonnes, plus estimated additional resources of 46 000 In 1974/75, the indigenous crude oil production tonnes. in Australia averaged nearly 400 000 barrels a day, representing some 70% of the crude oil Considered in the international context, and other feedstock to the Australian refineries. Australia has about 19% of the presently The majority of these indigenous crudes, about known, reasonably assured, low-cost 360 000 barrels/day, came from the Victorian resources of uranium in the Western World offshore fields. recoverable at costs below $A20 per kilogram uranium." A 4000 MW base load power station, over a 30- year operating life, requires the commitment of This indicates that ample uranium reserves some 1500 million barrels of oil. The oil have already been discovered in Australia to reserves in Victoria would be insufficient to support, if required, a large-scale domestic support a large base load power station, even if nuclear power program over many decades. crude oil were used for power generation.

A 4000 MW base load power station, operating The recent increases in fuel oil prices overseas over a 30-year life, would require a commitment and the implications of the energy crisis would of some 20 000 tonnes of uranium. make an oil-fired project, based on imported 64 fuel, uneconomic when compared with other ($1480 million) would be higher than for an alternatives. equivalent nuclear installation based on the light water reactor type located at a notional Due to the lack of sufficient local reserves and site about 200 km from Melbourne ($1330 the uncertainties associated with imported fuel million). However, the annual direct operating oil, no further consideration has been given to costs for the Lay Yang development ($31 the use of fuel oi I for the next base load million) are lower than those for the nuclear generating project in Victoria. projects ($1 00 million) which include the cost of 6.5 Black Coal enriched nuclear fuel assumed to be purchased The only reserves of Victorian black coal of overseas. The average cost of energy delivered nearly 7 million tonnes are located at Wonth­ to the Melbourne load centre from the proposed aggi and would only support 100 MW of base Lay Yang project is estimated at about 0.9 load plant. cents/kWh and from the alternative nuclear pro­ ject at about 1.1 cents/kWh. Table 15 sets out Large black coal reserves are available in NSW the comparative costs of generation at Lay and Queensland, but the high costs of transport Yang and nuclear projects. render uneconomic their use to fuel large power stations in Victoria. TABLE 15 In view of the above, no further consideration ECONOMIC COMPARISON OF LOY YANG has been given to the use of black coal for base AND NUCLEAR PROJECTS load generation in Victoria. Brown Coal Nuclear ASSUMPTIONS 7 COMPARISON OF BROWN COAL AND a Location Loy Yang Notional Site NUCLEAR 200 km from 7.1 Status of Nuclear Power Melbourne For Victoria nuclear power plant is the only b Project Capacity- MW 4000 3960 practicable alternative to brown-coal-fired c Number and Size of plant for base load duty, and a careful com­ Units 8 x 500 MW 6 x 660 MW parison of the two types of project has been d Interest Rate-% pa 8.5 8.5 carried out. e Project Economic Life -Years 30 30 Experience in the use of nuclear plant for the Average Capacity generation of electricity is now being gained in Factor 80% 80% many parts of the world. According to the 2 ECONOMIC Australian Atomic Energy Commission, at 30 COMPARISON AT JANUARY 1976 June 1975, about 68 000 MW of nuclear power PRICE LEVELS plant was in operation in the world, 150 000 MW Capital Expenditure was under construction, and 160 000 MW was -$Millions on order, giving a world total of 378 000 MW. a Fuel 186 188 Most of this capacity is of the US light water b Power Station including Project type using an enriched uranium fuel and the ex­ Services 1 144 935 perience to be gained in the next few years in c Additional Reserve the licensing, construction, operation and Plant for Comparable maintenance of these plants and the associated Reliability 40 fuel systems will be of vital importance to the d Transmission to HWTS 55 future consideration of the use of this type of e Transmission to Load plant in Victoria. AAEC estimates of installed Centre 95 167 capacity in the world by the year 2000 vary from Direct Capital Cost 1 480 1 330 1 900 000 MW to 2 400 000 MW. Overheads 266 266 Total Capital To date, there has been no need to establish an Expenditure 1 746 1 596 organisational and legal framework for nuclear ii Average Al1nual power industry in this country. However, re­ Operating Charges- cently an arrangement was made between the $Millions a Purchased Fuel 86 Commission and the Australian Atomic Energy b Operation and Commission to study the problems of siting, Maintenance licensing and regulation of nuclear projects in Charges 31 14 Victoria. Direct Operating Charges pa 31 100 7.2 Evalu~tion of Brown Coal and Nuclear Overheads 9 9 Projects Total Operating Charges 40 109 Comparison studies, based on January 1976 tii Average Energy price levels, indicate that the direct capital ex­ Costs delivered to penditure for the 4000 MW Lay Yang project Load Centre- c/kWh 0.9 1.1

65 The economic advantage favouring brown coal The cost of additional peak plant would be generation at Loy Yang has increased signifi­ about $40 million and this amount has added a cantly since 1974 when the detailed studies penalty to the capital cost of the alternative were made, at which time the cost saving in nuclear project in the current comparison. energy delivered to Melbourne was assessed at Nuclear power plant is more vulnerable to 0.02 cents/kWh. The reason for this increase changes in relative international price levels, has been a dramatic rise in the price of nuclear because it has a higher proportion of imported fuel. components and consumes uranium enriched in overseas plants. The long-term contracts, The significant increases in the price of oil on which would be required for fuel fabrication the world market have resulted in a rapidly ex­ and enrichment as well as spent fuel process­ panding demand for nuclear plants in many ing, are further matters which involve special countries, especially Europe, Japan and USA. difficulties and would be subject to control in This change has transformed the uranium overseas countries. market from a buyers' to a strong sellers market A nuclear project would involve techniques with sharp increases in the price of uranium as new to Australia, however well established well as enrichment and reprocessing costs. overseas, and in the short term, at least, it The market price of uranium in USA has risen would mean that Victorian base load energy from less than $20/kg U309 a few years ago to supplies would be dependent on overseas ser­ about $50/kg late last year. vices. lt would be necessary to establish licens­ ing and regulation procedures, in which the Coupled with the increase in world demand for other States and the Commonwealth would enriched uranium fuel and the delay in the pro­ have to participate, and there would be vision of additional enrichment capacity, the problems of public acceptance, all of which cost of enrichment services has increased by would take time to resolve. up to 66% since May 1974. Further difficulties From the above analysis, the introduction of a in meeting operating licence requirements are nuclear power project in Victoria at this time expected to double reprocessing charges, in­ cluding waste disposal, compared with those has been rejected. estimated in 1974. 8 SELECTION OF LOY YANG OPEN CUT The selection of the Loy Yang coalfield as the The increase in nuclear fuel costs has also site for the new 4000 MW base load project has changed the cost of initial fuel inventory and considerable advantages over other possible hence the estimated capital cost of the nuclear sites in the Latrobe Valley. Comparisons were power station by up to $100M. made with a number of other alternative Nuclear power plant derives much of its developments at Flynn, Narracan and Maryvale, economic attraction overseas by taking full ad­ and all exhibit technical and economic disad­ vantage of the economy of scale in size of units. vantages. In addition, they have major environ­ The nuclear project capital cost estimate was mental disadvantages affecting larger land derived using 6 x 660 MW generating units. areas and sections of the population compared Such unit sizes would be too large to introduce with Loy Yang. into the Victorian electricity system in the Table 16 indicates the brown coal reserves 1980's without the installation of some 300 MW available and other significant coal charac­ of peak plant such as gas turbines, additional to teristics for the major Latrobe Valley coalfields that required with 500 MW units, for emergency considered as alternatives for the Loy Yang loading at times of unscheduled outage of two project. The locations of the coalfields are or more of the large nuclear units. shown on Figure 38.

TABLE16 COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVE OPEN CUT DEVELOPMENTS FOR 4000 MW POWER STATION ITEM LOYYANG FLYNN MARYVALE 11l NARRACAN 11l Readily Recoverable Coal Reserves- Million Tonnes 1 200+ 1 200+ 1 200 1 000 Power Station Coal Requirements- Million Tonnes over Station Lifetime 1 000 1000 1 200 1 000 Overburden 210 240 470 220 Coal/Overburden Ratio Tonnes/m' 4.9 4.1 2.5 4.5 Average Moisture Content- % 63 63 66 62 Average Net Wet Heat Value MJ/kg 8.0 7.9 6.5 8.0 Average Ash Content-% 1.4 1.4 2.7 2.3 Average Fouling Index 0.02 0.15 0.18 0.15 Project Cost Penalties Compared with Loy Yang -$M (1976 prices) +120 +400 +225 NOTE (1) Open cut sites available after major diversion of the Morwell River.

66 CITIES ANO TOWNSHIP.$ V-~ BOUNOAf!Y fJ= lti!A!N COAL RES ER\I'ES EXISiiHG POWER STATIONS • t KILOMETRES

LATROBE VALLEY ALTERNATIVE OPEN CUTS WITH MAJOR DIVERSION OF MORWELL RIVER FIG. 38

Other smaller or less favourable coalfields con­ early opening of the Morwell open cut which sidered included the Gormandale, and caused considerable fouling of the furnace wall Coolungoolun/Holey Plains field in the Latrobe and tubular heating surfaces of the boiler. Valley, and the Gelliondale field south-west of Yarram. The readily recoverable brown coal The table compares the power station coal re­ reserves for these fields are significantly less quirements, the economics of coal winning as than those for the main fields considered and indicated by the ratio of coal to overburden, and are not suitable for a 4000 MW base load power coal quality as indicated by moisture and ash project. contents, as well as fouling index. In addition to showing favourable coal proper­ Table 16 shows that adequate reserves of coal ties and significant capital and operating cost are available at each of the alternative open cut advantages of between $120M and $400M as in­ locations to support a 4000 MW project and that dicated in Table 16, a Loy Yang development more coal is required at Maryvale than at the would result in a smaller environmental impact other sites. This increased quantity is due to the than alternative developments. higher moisture content of the Yallourn seam coal which is the uppermost and hence most The major disabilities associated with alterna­ significant seam in this coalfield. tive 4000 MW developments at Flynn, Maryvale and Narracan compared with Lay Yang are summarised in Figures 39, 40 and 41. The average ash content of each of the coalfields in the range of 1.4 to 2.7% shows that The Lay Yang coal measures are very favoura­ the ash level of these coals is very low, par­ ble for open cut development involving a ticularly when compared to "steaming" black minimum of land area overlying thick coal coals when ash contents may be 10 times these seams. The topography is suitable for opera­ levels. The boiler performance is affected by tions and works, and would not require diver­ the nature of the ash and the manner in which it sions of streams outside the immediate opera­ adheres to the heating surfaces. A useful way of tional areas. Currently, the project site is used comparing the behaviour of the ash has been for agricultural purposes and is remote from by the application of a fouling index developed Traralgon township and other built-up areas, by the Commission as part of the work in rela­ and the project would affect a minimum number tion to burning of Morwell coal at Hazelwood of people. power station. Generally, the fouling index for each of the fields is good, being much less than The Flynn coalfield site to the east of the Loy the values in excess of 0.5 encountered in the Yang project would have somewhat similar en-

67 r NORTH

012345

K!lCM(TRES

FLYNN 4000MW PROJECT

~-Comparison with Lov Yang Project Major Differences 3 l. Overburden Additional 35 million m to be removed. Larger dump and longer haul required.

2. ~!!_Cut - 50 m deeper requiring additional tr-ansport plant. 3. Coal_Quality Higher tendency of ash to deposit on boiler heating surfaces resulting in lower plant performance, Cost Penalty $120M inexcess of Loy Yang Project.

FIG. 39 vironmental effects to Loy Yang, but would 9 SELECTION OF POWER STATION necessitate removal of thicker overburden {re­ COOLING WATER SYSTEM quiring a larger initial stage external dump). All large electricity generating stations, whether conventional or nuclear, increase their Both the Maryvale and Narracan alternatives efficiency by using large amounts of cooling would require a major diversion of the Morwell water in the turbine steam condensers thus River away from coal-bearing areas to flow east lowering the temperature of low grade heat re­ of the Morwell ridge. This would involve the jection. The lower the temperature the higher alienation of areas of dairying land which the efficiency. would be inundated by river diversion and flood control water storages. In addition, the coal In many situations, this water is taken from a seams in these sites are not as thick as those at natural source such as the sea, as proposed for Loy Yang or Flynn and much larger land areas Newport, or a large river and simply returned would be affected by open cut operations over after use. Where there is no natural source of the project life. water large enough to enable adoption of this once-through system, the water used must be The Maryvale alternative does have an environ­ cooled and recycled. This is done at Hazelwood mental advantage in that initial overburden Power Station by means of the cooling pond, could be dumped inside the Yallourn open cut, and at Yallourn W by means of cooling towers. but this is not considered to compensate for the disadvantages of the close proximity of the pro­ For Loy Yang, no large natural body of cooling ject to Morwell and the use of much larger land water is locally available and, after detailed in­ areas. vestigation of alternatives, it was decided to use natural draft cooling towers. A typical lt is concluded, therefore, that the Loy Yang system using towers is shown in Figure 24. The coalfield represents the best choice for the advantages and disadvantages of the various development of the 4000 MW base load systems possible are discussed in the following generating project. paragraphs.

68 9,1 Natural Draft Cooling Towers 9.2 Fresh Water Cooling Pond This system is used at Yallourn W and has the This system is used at Hazelwood Power Sta­ least cost of the alternatives considered for Loy tion and, if used for Loy Yang, would be of simi­ Yang. The land requirements are relatively lar cost to natural draft cooling towers. The small and the towers can be located within the fresh water usage would also be similar to that power station security fence. Although for the towers. physically large, the towers will have aesthetically satisfying contours of landscape However, because of the large area of cooling dimensions. As is apparent at Yallourn W, this surface required for it to be effective, a cooling will enhance the appearance of the power sta­ pond would alienate a substantial amount of tion. farming land. In fact, the choice of a pond will be available only for the initial 2000 MW power Experience locally and overseas indicates that station, because of the lack of a suitable area vapour plumes from natural draft cooling large enough to accommodate a pond for both towers do not contribute to ground fogs. The A and B stations. fresh water consumption of natural draft towers is generally similar to that for cooling ponds. A pond would be created by a large dam wall across the Traralgon Creek valley. This dam All these factors led to the decision to use would pose substantial design problems in natural draft towers at Loy Yang. catering for the earth movements and subsi-

KILONURES

MARYVALE- 4000MW PROJECT ~~~~'1.'.'1..: WITH MAJOR DivERSION OF MORWELL RIVER l. Coal and Overburden - Additional 270 million m3 of overburden and 150 million tonnes of coal requiring extra plant. - Also longer haul distances 1nvolv~d. 2. Coal Quality Higher tendency of ash to deposit oc boiler heating surface! resulting in lower plant performance. LCYWer heat value resulting in 200 million tonnes more coal for the sarue electrical output and requiring larger boiler and associated plant.

3. Coal Supply - Longer haul distance to power stations requiring longer conveyors~ 4. Morwell River Diversion -Water storages on Morwell River, Wilderness,. 'VJ.ddle and :Billy s Creeks and river diversion channeL Coat Penalty - $40!JM in excess of Loy Yang Project. FIG. l.O

69 KllOM£TR£S

NORTHf

NARRACAN-4000MW PROJECT WITH MAJOR DIVERSION OF MORWELL RIVER

Economic. Comparison with Lcv Yang Pr:oiec.t Major Differences 3 1. Overburden - Additional 15 million m .

2. Coal Supply - Longer haul to power stations n~q~1i ring longer conveyors. 3, Coal Quality -Higher ash content resulting in higher plant costs. - Higher tendency of ash to dcposi t on boiler heating surf.Jces resulting in lQ~.o;~er plant performance.

4. Horwell River Diversion- Hater storages on t1orwell River, h'ildenH:ss, ~'iddle and 13illy's Creeks and river diversion channel. Cost Penalb.y_- $125M in excess of Loy Y

70 There is a lack of basic design data for dry nance which will be necessary to provide the cooling towers when extrapolated in size from services and facilities for which they will largest unit operating overseas of 220 MW to assume responsibility the 500 MW units required for Loy Yang. An lt is considered that, as a general principle, the alternative would be to use half capacity (250 Commission should not be responsible for pro­ MW) dry towers each of which could be similar viding finance for services to the project which in size to the 500 MW unit evaporative natural are the normal responsibility of other draft cooling towers envisaged for the 4000 MW authorities and which may well be regarded as project. part of the development of the region. These 9.5 Direct Sea Water Cooling authorities should have access to finance Direct systems involve passing the cooling through their usual channels, the co-ordination water through the turbine condensers only of which should be undertaken by State Treas­ once and then returning the heated water back ury. The Commission has been established to to its source. Alternatives considered were: contribute, in a particular way, to the develop­ ment of the State by the provision of an adequ­ • Bringing sea water to Loy Yang and return­ ate supply of electricity and by the uniform tariff ing it to the coast by pipeline. structure. The Commission's capital works program is financed partly from funds raised in­ • Siting the power station on the coastline. ternally, but also by significant advances from State Government sources. On the other hand, These systems would have the advantage of the Commission contributes substantial sums substantially reducing the quantity of fresh to the Consolidated Fund of Victoria through water required by the station but, in both cases, charges on total revenue and coal production. significant cost penalties would be incurred. In 1974/75, these contributions were in excess of $14 million. lt would be inappropriate for the Location of the A and B power stations on the Commission to become involved in the provi­ coast would add $250 million to $500 million to sion of finance for works other than those the capital cost of the project, and increase an­ directly pertaining to the construction and nual operating costs by about $65 million. operation of its works. Alternatively, carrying of sea water to the Loy Yang site would add about $600 million to the However, it must be recognised that the provi­ capital cost for a once-through system, and sion of finance to local and statutory bodies is a about $130 million if evaporative cooling towers key factor in the development of the Lay Yang were used in conjunction with the provision of project and that unless this is done, then in­ sea water. Sea water cooling towers would also evitably difficulties will arise in the execution of cause a carryover of salt to adjoining areas. the Commission's works.

10 GENERAL COMMENTS In addition to the prospect of economic growth, the Lay Yang project will make a significant lt is believed that the Loy Yang project is one contribution to the employment situation in the which will bring significant benefits to the State Latrobe Valley. of Victoria. The Loy Yang project was selected, after investigation of many alternatives, as Respondents to the recently conducted Gipps­ being the most favourable on economic, techni­ land Social Survey, affirmed the separate and cal and environmental grounds. The project unique importance of the Commission to the will have an environmental impact on the area life and welfare of the Latrobe Valley. As the but, with statutory controls, adverse effects can largest employer in the region, the Commission be reduced to a minimum. has made substantial contribution to the high degree of job stability which has existed over The project will introduce a major new activity many years. into an essentially rural area and will have sociological effects on the region. For example, The Loy Yang project wi 11 create 3000 new adult there will need to be an expansion of the exist­ male job vacancies in the next few years. Con­ ing community infrastructure to support the in­ struction personnel will have the opportunity of creased population brought about by the pro­ continuing employment. About half of the new ject. vacancies will require the import of new workers and the remainder will be filled by While community leaders and representatives transfer from other jobs in the Latrobe Valley. of local authorities have been ready to recog­ The net increase in the Commission and Con­ nise the economic growth and other benefits tractors' workforce will be about 1500 which which a project of this nature will bring to the will attract additional population to the region region, there has been some concern ex­ and result in a much needed boost to secondary pressed with respect to the availability of fi- industry.

71 11 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 1 the effects of the proposed project on the 11.1 Consultations with Other Bodies environment, and whether these effects The development of the Latrobe Valley has are acceptable, having regard to the been a matter for continuing contact between public interest; and the Commission's officers, members of the 2 any other matters which the Committee public, community groups, as well as local considers may be relevant to the inqu­ government and government agencies over the iry." whole of the Commission's history. In the The Committee held its first hearing in Decem­ period culminating in the selection of the Mor­ ber 1974 at which the Commission's initial sub­ well project, very extensive public contact and mission was made. The Committee made an air concern led to the establishment of the Latrobe and ground inspection of the project and en­ Valley Sub-Regional Planning Scheme as one virons in February 1974. In 14 meetings at of the principal vehicles by which community which 688 pages of transcript were submitted interests could be brought together in the best by 58 witnesses, the Commission submitted the interests of all concerned. following material as evidence and exhibits: As the steps over the past few years have been taken towards the identification and develop­ Evidence ment of the Loy Yang project, these community interests and contacts have substantially in­ 11/12/74 }Loy Yang Project (Prime Evidence) creased. Many organisations and individuals 17/12/74 -Transcript pages 1-92 inclusive. were contacted prior to there being any con­ 26/1/75 crete proposal for a project and the first of these 28/4/75 Evidence on Environmental Effects formal relationships with the community (and accompanying exhibits) - affected by the Loy Yang project was the an­ Transcript pages 239-290 inclusive. nouncement of approval by the Government of 13/5/75 Evidence on Governing Questions arrangements whereby the Commission was Transcript pages 292-305 in­ authorised to purchase land offered by the clusive. landholder in an area likely to be affected by the 1/7/75 Evidence on Land for the Project initial stages of development of the project. Transcript pages 324-345 inclusive. 3/12/75 Evidence on Land for the Project Following the announcement of the Govern­ - Transcript pages 685-688 in­ ment that a public inquiry by the Parliamentary clusive. Public Works Committee would be held into the 3/12/75 Final Statement Commission's proposal for a Loy Yang project, Transcript pages 680-684 in­ as set out in its report of February 1974, some clusive. 90 individuals, community int~rest groups, companies and government agencies have Exhibits been contacted and advised of the Commis­ sion's plans so that they would be informed and Geotechnical Aspects (including two able to contribute to discussions affecting the reports by Golder Brawner and Associates way in which the project would be developed. Ltd, Vancouver) This specific contact has been supplemented by press coverage including articles in the SEC Landscape Assessment (including a report magazine which·also enjoys a wide circulation by Professor Seddon and J Turner) in the community not the least being the Com­ mission's staff. Landscape Design and Aesthetic Con­ sideration of the Project (Report by SECV Chief Architect). 11.2 Parliamentary Public Works Committee Inquiry Environmental Impact Statement (Report by The Committee was referred in September Burmot Australia). 1974, by order of the Governor in Council: Consultations with Various Organisations "To inquire into and report upon the pro­ - SECV Report. posals by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria for the development of a power generating project on the Loy Yang The PPWC submitted its Progress Report No 1 coalfield, south-east of the City of Tra­ in December 1975 broadly endorsing the pro­ ralgon, as described broadly in the Com­ ject, but, recognising that a number of subjects mission's report entitled "Proposed Loy required detailed examination, stated that a full Yang Project" dated February 1974, with report would be submitted at a later date cover­ particular reference to- ing subordinate issues.

72 The Committee's recommendations made in 5 If the power station were to be sited on the the light of the Commission's ability to incor­ coast the operational cost of transporting the porate changes and meet any requirements that coal would be prohibitive. Furthermore, rail­ may be necessary to comply with emission way or conveyor lines and the transmission standards and performances are: lines that would be required would have a far greater impact on the environment than the 1"That the Government authorises the State conveyance of effluents to the ocean by un­ Electricity Commission of Victoria to proceed derground pipeline. with the planning of the Loy Yang project based on the development of a 4000 MW 6 The Loy Yang coal deposit has a better power generating station sited at Loy Yang coal/overburden ratio than the Flynn deposit. and utilising brown coal from the Loy Yang This also applies to the Narracan and field. Maryvale alternatives, the development of 2 That the Government takes notice that this is which would involve a major diversion of the a progress report only and that the Commit­ Morwell river and the acquisition of large tee, per medium of a comprehensive final areas of dairying land. report, will make recommendations concern­ 7 With regard to compliance with regulations ing the ancillary issues involved in the Inqu­ concerning protection of the environment the iry." Committee has been assured by the State The Committee further stated in its Progress Electricity Commission of Victoria and the Report No 1 the following conclusions which it regulating authorities that all licensing re­ had reached: quirements can be satisfied.

1"The views of the State Electricity Commis­ 8 There are ways and means available to the sion regarding the progressive increase in State Electricity Commission for minimising demand for electric power appear to be quite adverse environmental effects. realistic and well authenticated and the validity of forward planning to provide for this 9 There is evidence before the Committee on demand cannot reasonably be questioned. the subordinate issues involved in the Inquiry that requires careful analysis and assess­ 2 Good quality brown coal resources with a ment but there are no matters of serious con­ high coal to overburden ratio have been cern that will inhibit the proposed Loy Yang proven at Loy Yang and the State Electricity development." Commission is possessed of the technical skill and experience to develop these resources for base load power generation. 12 FINAL SELECTION OF LOY YANG 3 After consideration of alternative means of The Commission under its Act, has the respon­ power generation the Committee summar­ sibility to carry out investigations as to the izes its findings as follows: safest, most economical and effective means Hydro Power. There are no potential for promoting, establishing, extending and im­ hydro-energy resources in Victoria that proving works for the generating, distribution, could provide output of the scale en­ supply and use of electricity throughout Vic­ visaged at Loy Yang. toria and particularly for industrial and manufacturing purposes. ii Solar Energy. Technology is not suffi­ ciently advanced for it to be recommended Accordingly the selection of the preferred and as an alternative with any degree of cer­ recommended project has been made from the tainty. viable alternatives on the basis of the lowest cost of energy sent out from the generating sta­ iii Nuclear Energy. At present there is no tions. However due cognisance has been taken economic incentive to develop nuclear of other factors particularly relating to the en­ generation in preference to the develop­ vironment, in examining the alternatives and it ment of the brown coal resources which has been shown that Loy Yang is superior in are abundant in the Latrobe Valley. these regards to the other alternatives. The Commission's evidence placed before the 4 The required fresh water resources for Parliamentary Public Works Committee development of the Loy Yang project will be covered a wide range of these subjective mat­ available from existing SEC entitlements ters and the Committee's endorsement of the from the regulated output of the Tyers river, Loy Yang project carries with it an implicit ac­ groundwater at Morwell and future regula­ ceptance of the correct weighting of these mat­ tion of Gippsland streams. ters.

73 13 RECOMMENDATIONS MW unit for the winter of 1983. The esti­ I therefore recommend that mated cost, including overheads, of the 2000 MW station and associated develop­ • Approval be given for the construction of ments amounts to $920M at January 1976 the 4000 MW Loy Yang project consisting of price levels, including $40M for the exten­ an open cut, two power stations each of sion of the 500 kV transmission system from 2000 MW capacity made up of 500 MW units Hazelwood Terminal Station to the Lay and associated works located south east of Yang Power Station. the City of Traralgon as described in this report at an estimated cost, including over­ heads, of $1635M based on January 1976 • Concomitant approval be given to the con­ prices, including the extension of the 500 sequential development of the main kV transmission system from Hazelwood transmission system to the Melbourne load Terminal Station to the project at an esti­ area and the necessary further development mated cost of $65M. of the metropolitan, regional and interstate transmission system to provide efficient in­ • Approval be given to proceed immediately terconnection between the various generat­ with the first stage of the project comprising ing stations and to provide the safe, the 2000 MW Loy Yang A power station and economical and effective supply of the associated open cut, transmission, and electricity through the State. The extra cost, other works so that progressive tenders including overheads, of the main transmis­ may be called for the turbo-generators, sion system reinforcement is estimated to boilers, coal-winning plant and ancillary amount to $112M at January 1976 price plant with a view to service of the first 500 levels.

(Sgd) J Johnson ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER (DEVELOPMENT)

FEBRUARY 1976.

74 LOY YANG PROJECT - ARTISTS IMPRESSION PLATE 1 ELECTRICI TY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA

~ YALL OURN NTH ~ EXIENSION 0/C ~ o-1--s c-9 ~~f- (WORKED OUT) ~-.... YA LLOUR N ojc

LEGEND

MORWELL BOUNDARY OF MAIN C A L R E SE R VE S NARRACAN 0 FIELD AREAS OF MARGINAL COAL RESERVE.S ~ I INVESTIGATED 0 2 3 4 5 CCALF/ELDS D KILOMETRES NORTH OPEN CUTS

PLANNED OPEN CUT EXTENSIONS LATROBE VALLEY

EXISTING POWER STATIONS MAIN COALFIELDS

CITIES AND TOWNSHIPS AREA PLAN PLATE 2 0 0 0 . 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 ao en 0 ...... -- N N ...: -.j ...: 265000

263000

OPEN CUT BOUNDARY OF f.OOOMW DE VELOPMENT

26 100 0 POWER STATIONS '' A" STATI ON .. ~ 8 " STAT ION

\OPEN CUT COOLING TOWERS CONTROL OPERATIONS ~ ''A'' STATION "B "STATION

LOY YANG PROJEC 259000 LOY YA POWER AREA PLAN STATIONS

OVERBURDEN DUMP 0 500 1000 1500 2000 METRES

TREATED ASH EFFLUENT 25 7000 PIPELINE TO l OCEAN PLATE 3 CALLIGNEE SOUTH ROAD DEVIATION STATE ELECTR ICITY COMMISSION OF VICTORIA

RESERVED

CAR PAR K ACCESS ROAD

GAS TURBINES

0 UJ COOLING TOWER > 0:::: UJ J1 UJ 0:::: AIR AI R AIR A IR HEATER HEAT ER HEATER HEATER AND AND POWER AND AN D STATION PREC IPITATOR PRECIPITATOR PRECIPITATOR PREC IPITATOR A OM IN AREA AREA AREA AR EA CW PUMPS AND SERVICES AREA FURNACE FURNACE FURNACE FURNACE D 'LJ D D COOLI NG TOWER BOILER HOUSE BOILER HOUSE 0w a:: COOLING TOWER UJ >~ ELECTRICAL ANNEXE 8~ TURBINE HOUSE TURBINE HOUSE VISITORS C.W.PUMPS CENTRE TURBO TURBO TURBO TURBO G~N. N01 G~N . N02 GEN NO 3 GEN. N04 L

I I OUNH D C:::J UN IT DD¥NIT DDUNIT GEN TRANS TRANS I TRANS. GEN GEN . GEN TRANS. TRANS. I TRANS. TRANS.

COOLI NG TOWER

CAR PARK 500 KV SWITCHYARO I 0 50 100 LOY YANG PROJECT SCALE METRES LAYOUT FOR 2000MW "A'' POWER STATION PLATE