![AGL prepares its generation assets for summer](https://greenreview.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/shutterstock_2388677123_edited-1000x667-1.jpg)
While AGL’s thermal plants will reach the end of their operational life and will progressively close by 2035, the company will spend over $1 billion in capital and operational expenditure to maintain its generation assets this year — including major outages, maintenance, as well as upgrades to meet energy demands throughout the year.
AGL Chief Operating Officer Markus Brokhof said: “It’s important we continue to maintain these assets to assist to provide system security as we also target 12 GW of new renewable and firming capacity by 2035.
“Our yearly maintenance program and regular investment in our thermal and renewable assets aims to increase the availability, reliability, and flexibility of our assets so they can respond to the peaks in customer demand throughout the year.
This financial year, AGL is adding 300 megawatts of new flexible generation into the national electricity market with the Torrens and Broken Hill batteries. AGL has announced it will close Torrens Island ‘B’ Power Station on 30 June 2026, having closed the final unit at the ‘A’ power station last year.
Scheduled for closure between 2030 – 2033, AGL is spending $190 million at Bayswater in NSW on maintenance programs and additionally $120 million on unit one which is currently undergoing a planned major outage until mid-December.
The works at Bayswater unit one includes critical asset integrity assessments, major repairs, and upgrades to equipment.
This work is also providing a boost to the local community with 800 additional contractors involved in the planned outage works.
At Loy Yang in Victoria, targeted for closure in 2035, AGL is spending $350 million on capital and maintenance across the power station and mine. Works include minor planned outages on units 2, 3, and 4 in the power station and conveyor extensions in the mine.
At Torrens and Barker Inlet Power Station in South Australia, AGL is spending $27 million on routine maintenance of infrastructure.
This includes minor planned outages on each of the units which includes maintenance to the cooling water systems, turbines, and boilers.
At AGL’s hydroelectricity assets, which include the Kiewa Scheme, and Dartmouth and Eildon Power Stations in Northeast Victoria, the company is spending $28 million on maintenance and capital upgrades.
The company is also spending $8 million pre-investment as part of the Clover Power Station upgrades this financial year.