The two iconic chimney stacks of the Liddell coal-fired power station in the Hunter Valley were demolished in a controlled explosion on Tuesday, marking the end of an era for the site that powered New South Wales for over 50 years.
Energy giant AGL, which has owned the site since 2014, orchestrated the demolition of the 170-metre chimneys in a live-streamed event. The power station was officially retired in April 2023 after more than 52 years of operation, at its peak supplying electricity to around one million homes annually.
Chris Druery, Liddell station’s closure manager, compared the demolition to felling a tree, explaining that explosives blew a wedge out of the front of each stack to bring it down. The site will be redeveloped to host the 500-megawatt Liddell battery for energy storage, including from renewable sources.
The Nature Conservation Council NSW hailed the demolition as evidence 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 ongoing scrutiny of NSW's continued use of coal-fired power, with a parliamentary inquiry noting inconsistencies between the government's coal industry policy and its Net Zero commission advice.
