Premier John Brumby opens Bogong Power Station 

20 November 2009

The Premier of Victoria, the Hon John Brumby MP, officially opened AGL’s zero emissions Bogong Power Station at a ceremony on the site in Victoria’s high country today.

To mark the formal launch, the Premier officially switched on the 140 MW power station, marking the completion of the biggest hydroelectricity project on mainland Australia in the past 25 years.

Bogong Power Station, which will be able to provide renewable electricity to more than 120,000 homes during peak summer demand, now forms part of AGL’s market leading portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities.  The renewable electricity generated each year will abate in excess of 88,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

The new $240 million asset, located 300km north-east of Melbourne, is part of the larger Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme which comprises McKay Creek Power Station, Clover Power Station, West Kiewa Power Station and, now, Bogong Power Station.

Mr Brumby said: “I am delighted to open this new hydro power station which will play a major role in our cleaner energy future.”

“The Bogong Hydro Power Station is a great example of how climate change can provide a climate of opportunity – with new investment, more jobs and a cleaner environment."

AGL Managing Director, Michael Fraser, said the commissioning of Bogong was an important milestone for AGL.

“Decisions being made today by AGL to invest in renewable energy and build projects like the Bogong Power Station are contributing to Australia's response to climate change,” Mr Fraser said.

“The Bogong Power Station will make a real contribution to meeting the expanded Renewable Energy Target of 20% renewable energy by 2020.

“AGL manages Australia’s largest privately owned or operated portfolio of renewable generation assets.  The steps we have taken over the past few years to secure the best renewable energy development opportunities provide us with a strong platform for growth.”

By the end of the decade, AGL will own or operate approximately 1,200 MW of renewable energy generation assets, with approximately 2,300 MW of further renewable generation development opportunities. AGL is Australia’s largest listed owner, operator and developer of renewable generation.

The project
The project involved the construction of a new power station on the shores of Lake Guy, and the excavation of a tunnel to connect it to the outlet of the existing McKay Creek Power Station.

The 7km, five metre diameter tunnel between McKay Creek Power Station and the new underground Bogong Power Station is one of the largest ‘hard-rock’ tunnels constructed in the southern hemisphere in the past 40 years using tunnel boring machine equipment.  Approximately 90,000 tonnes of rock from the tunnel was used to upgrade the nearby Bogong High Plains Road.

The project creates additional new renewable generation from an existing water resource, by diverting water normally discharged into the Pretty Valley Creek.  This minimises the environmental impact and returns the Pretty Valley Creek to near natural conditions, protecting river beds, aquatic wildlife and restoring previously degraded land.

The Bogong Power Station will address Victoria’s need for additional peaking and renewable energy generation.   It was one of the last opportunities anywhere in Australia to construct a large-scale fast-start, fully discretionary hydro-peaking generation plant.

“The whole system is fully sustainable. The water storage used to power the upstream McKay Creek Power Station is renewed several times a year from permanent alpine rivers and lakes. Water discharged from McKay Creek Power Station will be re-used at the Bogong Power Station to generate a further 140 MW of peaking electricity,” Mr Fraser said.

Community
The local community in Mount Beauty and the surrounding communities have been
very supportive of the project.

AGL adopted best practice environmental management procedures throughout the project, due to its significance to the local area and its location within a national park.

AGL sponsors and supports a number of community activities including the local football and netball clubs and various other initiatives.  AGL also undertakes a number of local sponsorships which take place around the power assets such as the Kangaroo Hoppet cross country skiing event and the Audax Alpine Classic cycling event.

The project has created more than 200 jobs with local contractors filling the majority of these roles. 

AGL Hydro Information Centre
The Bogong Power Station is on the Alpine Tourism Loop.  AGL has developed an interactive information centre at the Bogong Power Station to provide visitors with an overview of the power station. The interactive information centre has been designed to be interesting, educational and accessible to the local community, school groups and travellers.

Further inquiries:

Media
Andrew Scannell, Head of Media
Direct: + 61 3 8633 6167
Mobile: + 61 (0) 407 290 658
e-mail:  ascannell@agl.com.au

Media
Nathan Vass, Senior Media Adviser
Direct:  + 61 2 9921 2264
Mobile: + 61 (0) 405 040 133
e-mail:   nvass@agl.com.au

About AGL
AGL is one of Australia's leading integrated energy companies and is taking action toward creating a sustainable energy future for our investors, communities and customers. Drawing on over 170 years of experience, AGL operates retail and merchant energy businesses, power generation assets and an upstream gas portfolio. AGL has Australia's largest retail energy and dual fuel customer base. 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, landfill gas and biomass. AGL is Australia's largest private owner and operator of renewable energy assets and is looking to further expand this position by exploring a suite of low emission and renewable energy generation development opportunities.