Gas and Diesel

Snowy Hydro has strategically-located gas and diesel-fired peaking power plants that complement our hydro-electric assets.

Their fast-start capability enables Snowy Hydro to generate power and ensure energy security at times of peak demand, or when there are transmission constraints.

Snowy Hydro owns and operates three gas-fired power stations, with a total generating capacity of 1,290 MW. 

The Laverton North Power Station, located in Laverton, Victoria, was commissioned in 2006. It has a total generating capacity of 320 MW. The station comprises two dual fuel open-cycle gas turbines, normally fuelled by gas supplied via the Brooklyn-Lara gas pipeline. The station can operate on distillate back-up fuel in the event of a gas supply curtailment.

Valley Power Power Station is located in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria. It was commissioned in 2002 and acquired by Snowy Hydro in 2005. Valley Power Power Station has a total generating capacity of 300 MW and comprises 6 x 50 MW dual fuel open-cycle fast-start gas turbines. The station can also operate on distillate back-up fuel in the event of a gas supply curtailment.

Colongra Power Station is located in Colongra, NSW. It was commissioned in 2009 and acquired by Snowy Hydro in 2015. Colongra Power Station has a total generating capacity of 667 MW and comprises four dual fuel open-cycle fast-start gas turbines. The natural gas fuelling the turbines is supplied via a dedicated high-pressure storage pipeline, which is connected to the Sydney-Newcastle gas pipeline. The station can also operate on distillate back-up fuel in the event of a gas supply curtailment.

In 2014, Snowy Hydro acquired 136 MW of reciprocating diesel engine peaking generation in South Australia, located at three facilities: Port Stanvac, a 36-unit, 65 MW station in Lonsdale, Southern Adelaide; the adjacent Lonsdale, an 18-unit, 21 MW station, and Angaston, a 30-unit, 50 MW station in the Barossa Valley. The stations operate on distillate fuel.

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