Yallourn power station to retire in 2028

It currently supplies nearly 20% of Victoria’s electricity demand.

Power provider EnergyAustralia has announced that the Yallourn power station in Latrobe Valley, Victoria will shut down in mid-2028, four years earlier than the intended retirement in 2032.

According to a media release, the energy firm has approached the Victorian government and presented plans to “retire Yallourn and transition to cleaner energy in a way that does not leave the workforce or the community behind.”

The firm will be rolling out a $10m (US$7.8m) support package, along with seven years of advance notice, so the power station and mine site staff will be able to regroup, reskill, or retrain.

Currently, the Yallourn power station — with a generation capacity of up to 1,480 MW — supplies nearly 20% of Victoria’s electricity demand, or 8% of the National Electricity Market.

“The energy transition is too important to leave to chance — a plan that supports people, the Latrobe Valley and locks in energy storage capacity before Yallourn retires will ensure the smoothest transition possible,” said Catherine Tanna, managing director of EnergyAustralia. “EnergyAustralia is determined to demonstrate that coal-fired power can exit the market in a way that supports our people and ensures customers continue to receive reliable energy.

EnergyAustralia aims to be carbon neutral by 2050. Yallourn’s retirement will catalyse this ambition, as it will lessen the company’s carbon dioxide emissions by more than 60% compared to today.

“Meanwhile, our new battery will help to secure Victoria’s energy supply and enable more renewables to enter the system. It would be larger than any battery operating in the world today,” added Tanna.