Strict new operating limits for Vales Point Power Station from 1 January

Vales Point Power Station will have its limits on nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions cut by up to 35% to meet new national air quality standards in the local community, and will have to adhere to strict new monitoring and reporting conditions from next year.

EPA Executive Director Regulatory Operations Stephen Beaman said the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issued Delta Electricity with a licence variation today following independent technical advice and expert modelling, discussions with NSW Health and a public consultation which received more than 1,800 submissions.

“The EPA has heard the concerns of the community and, based on our assessment and air quality modelling, we have tightened NOx limits from the original application, to significantly reduce the emissions from Vales Point,” Mr Beaman said.

“In addition, we have imposed strict new reporting and monitoring requirements to keep the community informed through a range of special operating conditions. We’ve also imposed a Pollution Reduction Program which will ensure the facility continues to make improvements.”

From 1 January 2022 Vales Point will be required to meet the following reduced limits to comply with the new National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure 2021 (NEPM) standard for NO2 in the local community:

  • A NOx 99 percentile limit of 850 milligrams per cubic metre - down 23% from the previous licence limit of 1100 milligrams per cubic metre.
  • A NOx 100 percentile limit of 980 milligrams per cubic metre - down 35% from the previous licence limit of 1500 milligrams per cubic metre.

In addition, Vales Point will also be required to:

  • Install a new ambient air quality monitoring station at Wyee Point for NOx, sulfur oxides (SOx) and PM2.5 by 1 July 2022
  • Conduct a NOx emission control engineering feasibility study by 31 December 2022 and a SOx emission reduction study report by 1 July 2022, and
  • Complete a Pollution Reduction Program to minimise the risk of any NOx concentration limit exceedances, by 1 July 2022.

“Air quality in NSW is generally good by world standards and our assessment, including a Regional Air Modelling Report prepared by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, shows that by operating within these tighter limits will maintain good local air quality,” Mr Beaman said.

“NSW Health has advised that any reductions in the concentration of air pollutants is likely to have a health benefit.”

Over the past six months Delta Electricity has undertaken works to improve NOx emissions from the Vales Point Power Station including the installation of new “burner tips” in boiler six, and an upgrade of the Distributed Control System to optimise the operation of boilers five and six. As part of the transition towards a low carbon economy, the facility is forecast to close in 2029.

More information about the Vales Point Power Station licence variation and a licence variation for the Liddell Power Station is available on the EPA website: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/community-engagement/community-news/regulation-of-power-stations.

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