Causality

53: Callide C Blackout

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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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