Snowy Hydro’s Kurri Kurri Power Station will recommence testing of the first of its two gas generators on Monday, 21 July 2025. This phase of testing will use gas, which is the generator’s primary fuel and expected to cause substantially less plume and odour than recent diesel testing.
We understand recent testing on the back-up diesel fuel generated visible emissions and an odour that caused discomfort and concern. The level of emissions and odour was not expected and was associated with starting up a brand new generator, combined with strong winds.
After listening to community feedback, we paused this initial phase of testing on the power station’s secondary fuel, diesel. We sincerely apologise for not meeting community expectations regarding providing information about the testing more broadly across the region.
When testing resumes next week on gas, there may be some noise noticed by properties very close to the station, with the potential for a plume and an associated odour during the initial start-up of the turbine. While these impacts will only last a short period and will be dependent on weather conditions at the time of testing, we have also increased the level of air monitoring outside the site boundary.
The nature of turning on a brand new generator for the first time means there is uncertainty regarding how it will perform as we fine-tune the turbines so they operate efficiently when we switch to full operations. Once fully tested, the efficiency of the turbines, which are the latest technology, will result in significantly reduced emissions.
Testing will be undertaken at night and is expected to take 6 to 8 weeks. Improvements to noticeable emissions and odour are expected each week as the commissioning process progresses.
There are appropriately strong rules that apply to the emissions, noise and other impacts from the power station during commissioning and in operation. Snowy Hydro is also working closely with the NSW Environmental Protection Authority to ensure impacts remain within strict environmental limits.
When fully operational, Kurri Kurri Power Station is designed to run only for a minority of the time, when electricity demand is high and renewable generation is limited. It will operate using gas as its primary fuel for the majority of the time, with diesel only being used as a backup.
Kurri Kurri Power Station will play an important role in preventing blackouts and enabling Australia’s decarbonisation. It will provide 660 megawatts of electricity when it’s needed most, allowing more wind and solar generation to enter the grid.
If you have any questions or concerns, call the Snowy Hydro Community Hotline at 1800 570 529, get in touch with us via our social media channels or visit the Hunter Power Project webpage.