53: Callide C Blackout

In 2021 the Callide C Power Station experienced a unit failure that tore the turbine-generator apart, resulted in hundreds of thousands of premises losing power, and cost hundreds of millions to repair. We look at how design errors and ultimately a lack of information led to the incident escalating out of control, when it could have been recovered.
With John Chidgey.

Formal Reports:

Callide Unit C4 Turbine Generator Failure 25 May 2021 (PDF)
Animation of the Callide Unit C4 incident
Trip of multiple generators and lines in Central Queensland and associated under-frequency load shedding on 25 May 2021 (PDF)

News Releases and Articles:

CS Energy releases report into 2021 Callide C4 Unit Failure
CS Energy releases technical report into 2021 Unit C4 incident
Dr Sean Brady to lead independent investigation into Callide incident
Battery failure led to power plant mass outage
Both units trip at Callide C on Wednesday 13th January 2021
Statement regarding IG Power
Intergen voluntary administration
Report says Callide C4 incident “could not have been anticipated”
Callide explosion blamed on battery charger failure
Callide Power Trading taken to court over system failure
CS Energy says insurers won’t agree to $300m claim over power station
Jim Soorley stands down from CS Energy
CS Energy Post about Incident on LinkedIn

Super-Critical Boilers:

Super-Critical Boiler Technology (PDF)
Supercritical Fluids
Supercritical Coal Plants

Electrical Engineering References:

Hydrogen-cooled Turbo Generator
Reverse Active Power Protection (ANSI 32P)

Court Action:

Alleged failure to obtain regulatory approval to operate a generating system
Notice of Filing: Australian Energy Regulator v Callide Power Trading Pty Ltd (PDF)
Coal generator to face court over blackouts caused by catastrophic explosion

General Information:

Callide Power Station
Stanwell Power Station
Tarong Power Station
Callide Power Station
CS Energy: Water Management

NOTE: Minor Corrections in audio updated: 31st March, 2024

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Episode Gold Producers:
'r' and Steven Bridle.
Episode Silver Producers:
Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Lesley, Jared Roman, Joel Maher, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Ian Gallagher.