Wangi Power Station

Wangi Power Station is a heritage-listed former coal-fired power station at Wangi Wangi, City of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales on Lake Macquarie. The power station operated between 1956 and 1986 and supplied electricity to New South Wales. It was once the largest in the state. The 12,000-square-metre (130,000 ft²) building was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

In 1946, the New South Wales Government approved the construction of the power station on Lake Macquarie at Wangi Wangi by the New South Wales Government Railways. Wangi Wangi was chosen for its proximity to a large body of water and coalfields. The power station was officially opened on 7 November 1958 by the NSW Premier, Joseph Cahill, after ten years of construction and two years of progressive commissioning of the six turbo-alternators from C. A. Parsons and Company, which gave it a capacity of 330 MW. One thousand men camped in Wangi Wangi during the peak construction period.

Wangi Power Station played an eminent part in relieving New South Wales of drastic power shortages during the late 1950s and playing a major role in restoring power supply to New South Wales after the total state power shutdown of 10 June 1964. Wangi Power Station was decommissioned in 1986, approximately thirty years after the first turbo-alternator commenced operation. The greater part of the generating equipment was removed by the early 1990s.

While the generating equipment has been removed, the main buildings and emission stacks still stand as of 19 May 2019. The site has been subject to proposals for redevelopment into residential and retail properties since the 1990s.

Wangi 'A' Station consisted of three 50 MW Parsons turbo-alternators. Steam was supplied at 650PSI and 840degF from six spreader-stoker coal-fired Babcock & Wilcox (UK) (now Babcock International) cross drum boilers. The firing system consisted of the Spreader Stoker and Babcock & Wilcox Detroit Rotograte. Rapidly rotating blades of the spreader feeder unit flung coal of the required size onto the rotograte, with a large percentage igniting before landing on the grate. The amount of coal feed could be regulated by varying the length of the stroke of the pusher plate supplying fuel to the coal feeder. There were two rotogrates fitted which consisted of two endless chains carrying transverse grate bars in a revolving action. Eight coal feeder units controlled through Reeves variable speed control drive. Each boiler had an output of 180,000 lb/h. It was a project of New South Wales Government Railways, but control was transferred before its completion to the Electricity Commission of New South Wales, which was formed in 1950.

The later 'B' Station, a modified product of the Electricity Commission of New South Wales, had three 60 MW Parsons units. Steam was supplied by 3 Babcock & Wilcox boilers that burnt pulverised coal. Steam pressure was 950PSI and steam temperature was 950 deg F. It was unit type plant and each boiler supplied 550,000 lb/h of steam to one turbine only.

To reduce visible emissions, the electrostatic precipitators of 'A' Station were upgraded to shaker-type fabric filters, and those of 'B' Station were upgraded to high pressure pulse jet bag filters, in 1976. The shaker-type fabric or bag filter has since become a standard feature of power stations in New South Wales.

The Wangi Power Station has highest level State heritage Significance for its association with leading the evolution of coalfields - sited power stations and power generation in New South Wales. It has similar level significance for being the largest power station in NSW for at least its first five years of operation. Its pre-eminent part in relieving NSW from the drastic power shortages and blackouts during the late 1950s and playing major roles in restoring power supply to NSW after the total state power shutdown of 10 June 1964. Wangi Power Station was the last of the Railway's power stations to be built, and the last one to close, and represents the transition from Railways to Elcom as the predominant power generation authority in NSW.