Nexa Advisory has analysed the performance of coal-fired power stations across the National Electricity Market (NEM). This report is part of a series of case studies which examines the reliability and performance of each of these generators as they approach the end of their technical lives.
This report analyses the performance of the 2,715 MW Bayswater Power Station in New South Wales between 2012 to 2024, and finds:
- Bayswater has high downtime and frequent unplanned outages. It has exhibited elevated unplanned outages over the last decade – with an annual unplanned outage rate of 38 per cent in 2024.
- Between 2018 – 2022, the average total downtime across its four units was over 6,000 hours – equivalent to each unit being offline for over two months each year.
- Bayswater has emitted 13.6 Mt CO2 annually since 2018, which can be conservatively valued at $471.2 million.
Recommendations
Nexa Advisory urges the New South Wales Government (working closely with the Federal Government where appropriate) to:
- Commit to a timetable for closing Bayswater: As a matter of urgency, transparency and certainty is needed about the closure date of the Bayswater Power Station.
- Lean into new capacity build: Working together, governments should mobilise funding through the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) and/or the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) to bring forward new dispatchable renewable generation.
- Accelerate near-term project approvals: Expedite planning approvals for projects deemed to be critical for the state’s energy transition.
- Bolster firming procurement in advance: Procuring capacity through the Firming Long-Term Energy Service Agreements (LTESA) mechanism, ahead of identified breaches, would also provide cost-effective ‘insurance’ against unexpected capacity loss, such as the earlier-than announced closure of a coal-fired power station.
- Look beyond the Renewable Energy Zones (REZs): Encouraging new developments outside of the declared REZs (which have been the immediate focus) these would attract investment where it is needed and accelerate the transition.
- Enable critical transmission lines: Nexa Advisory has long advocated that the delivery of large-scale projects must be paired with on time delivery of transmission infrastructure.
- Leverage the untapped potential of Consumer Energy Resources: There is an estimated 7 GW of potential rooftop solar installations capacity across Commercial and Industrial (C&I) buildings, which would help to lower bills for businesses.
Read our report here: Nexa Advisory – Bayswater Power Station case study