Restart of Redbank Power Station

I support the project to help transition us to cleaner energy.

I support the restarting of Redbank Power Station as proposed in the media release dated 8th of March 2024

As a local resident I support the project which will provide base load green power and create local jobs

The project offers a multifaceted solution to a few pressing issues. Firstly, its provision of 24/7 carbon-neutral renewable energy serves as a crucial complement to the intermittent nature of solar and wind power, ensuring a more stable and reliable energy supply. As coal stations progressively shut down, like that of Eraring - the largest coal plant in Australia slated for closure in 2025, the project stands as a vital pillar in supporting the grid's transition, mitigating the potential disruptions in energy availability. Additionally, the project's establishment will create employment opportunities in regional areas, injecting vitality into local economies and fostering community development. Moreover, its contribution to Australia's ambitious 2030 renewables target of 82% underscores its pivotal role in steering the nation towards a sustainable energy future, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.

The recent events have starkly shown how important energy security is to companies and citizens. Now more than ever we need to ensure that we have stable 24/7 baseload from renewable sources. I believe Verdant's biomass solution will form a small but important piece in ensuring our grid is not only carbon neutral but also stable.

Effective commissioning of existing infrastructure to produce green electricity with net zero CO2. An innovative and sustainable addition to replacing coal fired electricity.

I support exploring several forms of renewable energy especially baseload that will support the current strategy that is basically intermittent energy sources, a site such as Redbank is an example of a modern biomass system that will use processed waste timbers with no higher order use and purpose grown feedstock, while creating a perpetual carbon sink. The power station will generate clean renewable baseload energy and is a critical piece of infrastructure on the east coast of Australia it would cost several hundred million dollars to build from scratch and is the only baseload energy source that can be restarted within 12 months of approval.

The project offers continuous carbon-neutral renewable energy around the clock, which complements the intermittency of solar and wind power. Additionally, it aids in supporting the grid during the closure of coal stations, generates employment opportunities in regional areas, and contributes to Australia's target of achieving 82% renewable energy by 2030

We need to generate more renewable energy as coal stations shut down. Not only does this project provide jobs to regional areas, it also ensures we do not get left behind in the world's race to netzero. Australia is an amazing country and an even more amazing place to live and raise a family. I reckon we will see more people around the world wanting to move to Australia in the future. That's one of the reasons why we need to establish better energy generation and distribution infrastructure now.

This project is a vital step to assist Australia in making it's 2030 climate targets, especially since many other projects have been held up for various reasons. This asset is already built and is in area with a lot of associated infrastructure complimentary to Versant's operations, all of which means it can come online relatively quickly.
Using biomass as a fuel will produce green electricity with low emissions for the NSW market which has fears of under supply in the years to come. Also, given the land available at the site, there is scope for other green electricity generating options eg solar. This is a great project that will help the state move away from coal generated electricity at a faster rate. It has my utmost support.

I object to the proposed wood burning power station as we are in a climate emergency and burning fossil fuel will only exacerbate the problem. Wood is ideally left growing in forests if we want to best counter the effects of global warming.

I am totally in favor of the reopening of the Redbank Power Station utilizing Biomass and Wood Waste. I am also fully supportive of the use of forest and sawmill residues for such a project as well.
Sawdust for example, has been used as a boiler fuel in brickworks, sugar mills and larger industries requiring heat throughout the country for many years.
It is time a sensible approach was taken to support these projects rather than having various departments overrule applications of this nature when our power is becoming expensive and may prove to be unreliable due to the inability for our Solar and Wind generated sources to produce power on demand.

This power generation project provides baseload power which is complimentary to other renewable energy sources currently being installed using existing infrastructure , providing a service to remove bio-wastes and provides baseload power 24/7.

i like the fact that Verdant has listened and removed forestry products from the fuel source . This biomass power generation potentially provides a prototype for other current power generation plants removing bio wastes with existing power generation and distribution infrastructure in place - a significant benefit over solar and wind which are not 24/7 power generators , nor have the necessary distribution systems in greenfield sites.

This project generates employment in an area which will be affected by coal mine closures as the price of thermal coal retreats , at US$100/tonne all sites can make money but when coal retreats to historical levels ,mines will become uneconomic and shutdown , creating unemployment. This plant provides an option for re-employment with similar skill sets required to construct/modify, operate and maintain this current infrastructure

Literature reviews show potential fuel sources for Biomass , which can potentially offset future landfill which would also be a benefit to the approval of this project creating a win/win in terms of deferring landfill (cost/volume/potentially hazardous materials) and generating power which is complimentary to Net Zero targets.

in summary ,I support this project for the reasons outlined above , i cannot see any downside to this project which uses existing infrastructure , removes unwanted and potentially hazardous Bio waste and generates baseload power 24/7

This project should be approved given the positive environmental and economic impact it will have. Australia's energy is predominantly derived from fossil fuels and progressive projects of this nature should be welcomed and supported. There is no sense to let hundreds of millions of dollars worth of infrastructure lay idle when it can be transformed into a positive yielding energy source.
I really hope the department agrees and is supportive.

This project will be great for the local economy and energy security for NSW.

We need more energy infrastructure in Australia

As an industry participant and long time supporter of carbon neutral energy solutions, I believe that this project is pivotal to NSW's decarbonisation needs. It will also breath life into an region that has had economic activity removed from it previously.
The proposal is also able to demonstrate strong alignment with NSW government policies.

The Australian national energy market (NEM) is in a state of transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. However, the dynamics of the market is causing friction in the transition especially when it comes to the intermittency of renewables against the benefits of baseload power from coal. The NEM needs a carbon neutral baseload solution to maintain energy security, network frequency, and to ensure power prices don't skyrocket in the evening peak when most renewables go offline. Batteries are one avenue but they can't be burdened with the entire load and gas peakers are run on fossil fuels. The proposal from Verdant for a biomass baseload energy is the solution we need at this time to ensure the lights stay on when coal-fired generators go offline over the coming years. Redbank will provide 1m MWh of carbon neutral power and will compliment the new and existing renewables currently on the grid ensuring that NSW and Australia meet their carbon neutral goals.

Biomass is the largest source of renewable energy globally, accounting for 55% of renewable output and 6% globally, and I am amazed Australia has yet to embrace this as an energy solution. Australia has a legislated goal of 82% renewables by 2030. In 2022, Australia generated an estimated 273 TWh of electricity, a 2% increase on 2021. By 2030 this will be approx. 320 TWh, of which 262 TWh would need to come from renewables in order to reach our target. Redbank will only produce ~1 TWh of electricity but it is 1 TWh less needed from other sources. More importantly, Redbank can act as a shining example of the benefits of modern sustainable biomass in Australia, potentially opening the door to expansion of biomass to ensure we hit our renewable energy targets.

Approve the project. It will bring jobs, renewable energy, and energy security to the NEM that is in dire need of new baseload generation sources.

I consider the project to be both in the best interests of NSW's zero greenhouse gas initiative and providing valuable long term job opportunities for the local population. Having reviewed the documentation provided for the EIS I am pleased to see all necessary criteria to protect the environment have been met.
I have been fortunate in having an opportunity to discuss biomass use with farming specialists who actively support the type of use proposed in the application.

The Redbank project, offers a unique opportunity to advance renewable energy generation in Australia and provide an alternative form of base-load energy to coal generation. The unique advantage of the plant being an existing piece of infrastructure cannot be overlooked, not only can the plant be operational within a year of approval (benefiting the reliability of the grid, providing local jobs and delivering nearly a billion dollars to the economy), the modification of the generator will have a minimal carbon output and will give a new life to exisiting infrastructure. In addition the plant offers the opportunity to develop long term carbon sinks through purpose grown biomass, and give a new purpose to end of life waste woods with no higher order use that is currently burnt or left to decompose (both of which emitting the same amount of carbon as when used for energy generation). This project represents a critical step in Australia's transition to a net-zero grid and will provide vital base-load generation to the grid as coal-generators close down.