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
• of-multiple-generators-and-lines-in-qld-and-associated-under-frequency-load-shedding.pdf">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.html">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:

• V5I6489.pdf">Super-Critical Boiler Technology (PDF)
• Supercritical Fluids
• Supercritical Coal Plants

Electrical Engineering References:

• Hydrogen-cooled Turbo Generator
• help.schneider-electric.com/ED/MTZ/Micrologic_X_User_Guide/EDMS/DOCA0102EN/DOCA0102xx/ProtectionFunctions/ProtectionFunctions-18.htm">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 PatreonEpisode 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.