The two iconic chimneys of the Liddell coal-fired power station in New South Wales have been demolished in a controlled explosion, marking the end of an era for a site that powered the state for over five decades. The demolition, streamed live online on Tuesday, saw the 170-meter stacks collapse one after another following massive detonations.
End of an Era
Owned by energy giant AGL since 2014, the power station was officially retired in April 2023 after more than 52 years of operation. At its peak, Liddell supplied electricity to approximately one million homes annually. The site will now be transformed into the 500-megawatt Liddell battery, designed for energy storage from renewable sources.
Demolition Process
Chris Druery, Liddell station’s closure manager, compared the demolition to felling a tree. “We basically blow a wedge out of the front of the stack in the direction that we’re trying to fell it in. They cut the back of the stack to remove resistance. When the explosion goes off, it blows that wedge out of the front and it basically falls over like a tree does when you fell a tree,” he explained.
Reactions to the Transition
The Nature Conservation Council NSW hailed the demolition as evidence of the shift to clean energy. Chief executive Jacqui Mumford stated: “Today’s demolition of the smokestacks at Liddell power station shows we can achieve a transition to reliable cleaner energy, in fact it’s already well underway.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns acknowledged the significance before the demolition, noting the power station had “been an incredible source of energy that’s really fired up NSW for many, many years.” He added: “It’s an important change, but I think today is actually quite iconic in relation to what it means in terms of where the transition is up to, and I would take the opportunity to actually thank all the workers who’ve worked at Liddell.”
Coal Under Scrutiny
Amid the renewable transition, NSW’s continued reliance on coal-fired power has faced criticism. On Monday, a NSW parliamentary inquiry heard that the Minns government’s coal industry statement, which permits existing coalmine expansions and extensions, contradicts the NSW Net Zero commission’s advice. Since the 2023 election, the government has approved at least eight coal expansions and extensions.
