AGL Macquarie Power Stations

Learn about the past, present and future of one of Australia's largest power generation sites.

AGL Macquarie is the home to Bayswater power station and Liddell power station which retired from service in April 2023 after nearly 52 years of operation.  

Around 500 people work at the 2715MW Bayswater power station, and in its prime Liddell had a capacity of 2000MW.

Over recent years, Bayswater power station has produced approximately 15,000 GWh of electricity a year, enough power for two million average Australian homes and families and 20% of NSW electricity demand. 

Location

Bayswater power station and the Liddell Power Station site are located between Singleton and Muswellbrook in the Upper Hunter Valley of NSW.

Liddell and Bayswater power stations map (PDF)

Latest updates

Following its closure in April 2023 Liddell is now in a decommissioning and demolition phase - preparing the site for future use as a low-carbon integrated industrial energy hub.  In line with AGL’s Climate Transition Action Plan released in 2022, Bayswater is scheduled for closure between 2030 - 2033. Extensive planning and consultation is progressing for redevelopment of the site using the existing land, water, transport and energy infrastructure. Planning approval has already been received for a 500 MW/2GWh grid-scale battery on the Liddell site.

We’re also exploring other clean energy projects to support the site transition including wind, pumped hydro, solar generation, and green hydrogen. The full plan for AGL’s decarbonisation and transition can be found here.

This is just the beginning.

Liddell Transition Communications - September 2023

Lake Liddell:

Post closure of Liddell Power Station, Lake Liddell is required for operation of Bayswater Power Station. Subsequently the lake will remain closed for public recreation for the foreseeable future.

Fact sheets:

Our people (PDF), opens in a new window

Decommissioning & Demolition (PDF), opens in a new window

Liddell Ash Dam (PDF)

History

Liddell power station was commissioned in 1971, and for many years was the backbone of the NSW electricity system. It was the first of its kind to be located inland – far from the abundant saltwater supplies traditionally used for cooling purposes. As a result, Lake Liddell was constructed for cooling and water storage. 

Bayswater power station was commissioned in 1985, and its design reflected the progress and improvements in power generation technology. Four evaporative cooling towers stand out as the site's most distinctive feature.

AGL acquired Liddell and Bayswater power stations – previously known collectively as Macquarie Generation – from the NSW Government in September 2014.

Acquisition conditions

AGL is fully committed to complying with the conditions set out in the Australian Competition Tribunal’s authorisation of the acquisition of AGL Macquarie in 2014.

As part of these conditions, there is a requirement for AGL to have offered and/or to have entered into a minimum number of baseload swap contracts to licenced eligible NSW electricity retailers subject to the conditions outlined in the authorisation.

Compliance with these conditions is verified by independent quarterly audits, copies of which are provided to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

AGL's tracking compliance details (PDF)

It is important to note that compliance with the conditions does not of itself preclude AGL quoting outside its parameters, and AGL remains willing to consider all quote requests where possible.

Community complaints and enquiries

AGL understands that we don’t always get it right, and we want to be informed when we don’t. If you would like to provide any feedback, good or bad, or simply ask some questions, please feel free to get in touch via the following channels:

Complaints and Enquiries Hotline
Call 1800 039 600
Email
AGLCommunity@agl.com.au
Mail

AGL Community Complaints & Enquiries,
Locked Bag 14120 MCMC,
Melbourne VIC 8001

Learn more  about how we handle general customer complaints on our complaints page.