Causality

53: Callide C Blackout


Listen Later

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


              Support Causality on Patreon

              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.
              ...more
              View all episodesView all episodes
              Download on the App Store

              CausalityBy The Engineered Network

              • 4.9
              • 4.9
              • 4.9
              • 4.9
              • 4.9

              4.9

              120 ratings


              More shows like Causality

              View all
              Radiolab by WNYC Studios

              Radiolab

              43,991 Listeners

              99% Invisible by Roman Mars

              99% Invisible

              26,248 Listeners

              Skeptoid by Brian Dunning

              Skeptoid

              2,667 Listeners

              The Kitchen Sisters Present by The Kitchen Sisters & Radiotopia

              The Kitchen Sisters Present

              1,287 Listeners

              Imaginary Worlds by Eric Molinsky | Daylight Media

              Imaginary Worlds

              1,995 Listeners

              Science Vs by Spotify Studios

              Science Vs

              12,119 Listeners

              Pragmatic by The Engineered Network

              Pragmatic

              53 Listeners

              Analytical by The Engineered Network

              Analytical

              3 Listeners

              This Podcast Will Kill You by Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts

              This Podcast Will Kill You

              16,988 Listeners

              Swindled by A Concerned Citizen

              Swindled

              9,845 Listeners

              American Scandal by Wondery

              American Scandal

              19,158 Listeners

              Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford by Pushkin Industries

              Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

              5,145 Listeners

              Well There‘s Your Problem by WTYP is Justin Roczniak, November Kelly, Liam McAnderson, and friends.

              Well There‘s Your Problem

              1,329 Listeners

              Sleep by The Engineered Network

              Sleep

              2 Listeners

              WHAT WENT WRONG by Sad Boom Media

              WHAT WENT WRONG

              3,409 Listeners

              Against The Odds by Wondery

              Against The Odds

              7,774 Listeners

              Unexplainable by Vox

              Unexplainable

              2,312 Listeners

              Search Engine by PJ Vogt

              Search Engine

              4,569 Listeners

              Pragmatic Electric by The Engineered Network

              Pragmatic Electric

              0 Listeners

              Whisky Whiskey by The Engineered Network

              Whisky Whiskey

              0 Listeners