The two iconic chimney stacks of the Liddell coal-fired power station in New South Wales have been demolished in a controlled explosion, marking the end of an era for the site that supplied energy for over 50 years.
Energy giant AGL, which has owned the Hunter Valley power station since 2014, orchestrated the demolition of the 170-metre chimneys on Tuesday. The event was streamed online, showing the stacks falling one after the other following explosive charges.
Liddell power station was officially retired in April 2023 after more than 52 years of operation. At its peak, it provided electricity to approximately one million homes annually.
The site will be redeveloped to host the 500 megawatt Liddell battery for energy storage, including from renewable sources. AGL's closure manager, Chris Druery, compared the demolition to felling a tree, explaining that explosives blew a wedge out of the front of each stack to guide its fall.
The Nature Conservation Council NSW said the demolition demonstrated that the shift to clean energy is working. Chief executive Jacqui Mumford stated that the transition to reliable cleaner energy is already well underway.
NSW Premier Chris Minns acknowledged the power station's historical significance, thanking workers who had been employed at Liddell. The demolition comes amid scrutiny of NSW's continued use of coal-fired power, as a parliamentary inquiry heard that the government's coal industry statement was inconsistent with Net Zero commission advice.
