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

Support Causality on Patreon

Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.
Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Lesley, Jared Roman, Joel Maher, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Ian Gallagher.

See All 56 Episodes of "Causality"