Australian electricity provider CS Energy has reported that its Swanbank power station is now ready to comply with the proposed level five water restrictions that will reduce its water allocation from the Wivenhoe Dam to 15 mega liters per day.
CS Energy chief executive Mark Chatfield said that the company has been working with the Queensland government, the Queensland water commission and other generators to determine the most appropriate operating regime to safeguard electricity supply under the proposed water restrictions.
CS Energy said that the reductions will have no impact on its 385MW gas-fired Swanbank E power station, which is a highly water efficient plant and will continue to operate under the same regime. CS Energy added that, until recycled water becomes available later in 2007, the 480MW coal-fired Swanbank B power station will operate at reduced capacity, but will still be sufficient to supply southeastern Queensland.
Mr Chatfield said: Earlier this year Swanbank reduced its raw water use by increasing the amount of times water is recycled through its cooling water system. This measure alone would have saved up to 727 mega liters annually and result in an 8.6% reduction in water use.
CS Energy said that it has reduced its town water usage by 25% and that Swanbank’s maintenance schedule has been changed in order to reduce its water requirements prior to the delivery of recycled water later in 2007.