Big Gas Power Stations Might Become Normal

ABC Illawarra

Topic: Energy Industry

Friday, 15 May 2026, at 6:11 am

Energy Australia wants to build a big gas-fired power plant in Marulan, in the Southern Highlands. The plant will be 1.4 gigawatts.

In short:

Energy Australia has asked to change a 2009 plan to make the Marulan Gas Project bigger, to 1.4 gigawatts.

An expert thinks many big gas plants will be built because we will need more power.

What's next?

The government is looking at the plans, and they want the project to be ready by 2032.

There's a plan for a big gas-fired power plant in Australia, and experts are worried about future energy needs.

Energy Australia got permission in 2009 to build an 800-megawatt gas-fired power station in the Southern Highlands.

The company hasn't started the project yet, but now it wants to make the plant almost twice as big.

The power station will have two open-cycle gas-fired generators and will be ready by 2032.

The biggest gas-fired power station in Australia is in South Australia, and it can make 800 megawatts of power.

The site for the new plant will have two gas turbines to make peaking power.

More data centers are being built, and this is one reason the plant needs to be bigger.

The growth of data centers and the move to wind and battery power mean we need more energy, and gas plants can help.

More gas is expected

The first plan was for one turbine for peaking power and one for continuous power, but the new plan is for two peaking plants.

The plant will only work when renewable energy is not enough to support the grid.

The company is asking for permission for a 1.4-gigawatt plant, but it will decide the final size later.

Geoff Bongers is an expert in energy, and he thinks we will see more big gas projects.

He says gas supply will be a problem if many big gas-fired power plants are built.

Gas is a reliable way to make power when coal plants are closed, and nuclear power is not an option in Australia.

A lot of coal-fired power is being replaced by gas-fired power.

There's a problem with having enough gas for all the new power plants.

We need to find more gas in Australia to use in power plants, and this might need new infrastructure.

Energy Australia says big gas-fired power stations are needed as coal plants are closed.

The Marulan plant will connect to a pipeline that is 7 kilometers away.

The government has announced a plan to keep some gas in Australia for domestic use, starting in 2027.

Cost questioned

Some people think the price of gas is too high and should be lowered to $8 a gigajoule.

The cost of gas might be a problem for this project.

How often the plant is used will affect how economical it is.

Some people are worried about the environmental impact of more gas projects.

An expert questions whether a big gas-fired power plant can be viable as a peaking plant.

The plant will not provide continuous power, and the application to modify the project removes this option.

The company points to the success of another gas-fired power plant to show that the project can be profitable.

20th-century technology

Some experts are worried about the new gas projects and the size of the plans for Marulan.

We need to be careful not to rely too much on gas for power.

Solar, wind, and storage can provide what we need for a clean energy future.

Gas is better than coal, but we should not lock ourselves into using fossil fuels for a long time.

The government is looking at the plans for the Marulan plant.

The plans will be available for the public to see around October.

ABC Illawarra has local news.

Friday, 15 May 2026, at 6:11 am

Friday, 15 May 2026, at 7:00 am

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