AGL Energy Limited (AGL) today announced it has approved a $63 million project to install a Distributed Control System (DCS)1 at AGL Macquarie’s Bayswater power station in the NSW Hunter Valley.

As part of the project, AGL has executed a contract with Siemens Australia to deliver and maintain the DCS and a simulator training facility.

AGL Macquarie General Manager, Mr Ian Brooksbank, said this is an exciting announcement for the future of Bayswater power station and a significant investment which is a boost for the Hunter economy.

“The new DCS will enhance safety, improve power station reliability and enable the plant to operate more efficiently.

“It will transform how we operate the plant and perform as a business.

“Our employees will be using world-leading technology to operate one of Australia’s largest and most important power stations,” Mr Brooksbank said.

The capital and maintenance investment was first identified in 2014 at the time AGL purchased Macquarie Generation.

Installation of the DCS is expected to start in September 2017 during a major maintenance outage on Bayswater Unit 1, and continue on successive planned unit outages until late 2019.

Bayswater power station was commissioned in 1985-86 and consists of four generating units with a total capacity of 2,640 MW.

Bayswater produces approximately 15,000 GWh of electricity per annum, or enough to power two million average Australian homes.

AGL Macquarie’s Bayswater and Liddell power stations combined supply approximately 30 percent of electricity demand in NSW.

A DCS is a semi-automated system that monitors, controls and instructs the various parts of a power station, to help manage efficient performance and operation.

About AGL
AGL is one of Australia’s leading integrated energy companies. It is taking action to responsibly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions while providing secure and affordable energy to its customers. Drawing on over 175 years of experience, AGL serves its customers throughout eastern Australia with meeting their energy requirements, including gas, electricity, solar PV and related products and services. AGL has a diverse power generation portfolio including base, peaking and intermediate generation plants, spread across traditional thermal generation as well as renewable sources including hydro, wind, solar, landfill gas and biomass.