Liddell coal power station chimneys demolished in NSW, marking energy transition milestone
Consensus Summary
The iconic 170-meter chimney stacks of the Liddell coal-fired power station in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley were demolished on May 26, 2026, marking the end of a 52-year operational history. The site, owned by energy giant AGL, will be repurposed as an industrial energy hub, including a 500-megawatt battery for renewable energy storage. The demolition, livestreamed online, involved explosives to bring down the massive structures, with workers and locals expressing mixed emotions about the closure. While the transition to cleaner energy is celebrated, the NSW government has faced scrutiny for approving coalmine expansions despite its net-zero commitments. The site’s redevelopment, including potential solar panel manufacturing and recycling operations, aims to create new jobs and opportunities in the region.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The two 170m chimney stacks of Liddell coal-fired power station in the NSW Hunter Valley were demolished on May 26, 2026, using explosives.
- Liddell power station was officially retired in April 2023 after more than 52 years of operation.
- The site will host a 500 megawatt Liddell battery for energy storage, including from renewable sources.
- AGL owns the Liddell power station site and is redeveloping it as an industrial energy hub.
- The chimneys had a base diameter of 20m and narrowed to 10m at the top.
- The demolition was livestreamed online, with explosives packed into the base of the chimneys to bring them down.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Steve Lanesbury, who worked at the station for 44 years, described the demolition as emotional, comparing it to 'someone with a terminal illness'.
- Margaret and David Channon met while working at Liddell and later married, with their son Jackson also working at the site.
- The Liddell Power Station generated about 431,000 gigawatt hours of power during its lifetime, enough to power NSW for 6.5 years at consumption rates at the time of its closure.
- The neighbouring Bayswater Power Station, also owned by AGL, is due to close in 2033.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the Liddell site in 2024 to announce a $1 billion program aimed at boosting solar panel manufacturing in Australia.
- The site has been cleaned out and disconnected over the past 18 months, with about a million litres of oil recycled.
- Proposals for the Hunter Energy Hub include solar panel manufacturing, recycling, and a data hub.
- The Nature Conservation Council NSW called the demolition a sign that 'the shift to clean energy is working'.
- NSW Premier Chris Minns said the power station had 'fired up NSW for many, many years' and thanked workers for their contributions.
- A NSW parliamentary inquiry heard that the Minns government’s coal industry statement, allowing existing coalmine expansions, was inconsistent with NSW Net Zero commission advice.
- The government has approved at least eight coal expansions and extensions since the 2023 election.
- Power bills are expected to fall by up to 10% from July as renewables and batteries soar across Australia.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The ABC states the demolition was not open to the public due to safety concerns, while the Guardian does not mention this restriction.
Source Articles
Liddell’s famous power station chimney stacks crumble into history in massive blast
Energy giant AGL orchestrated a controlled demolition of 170-metre chimneys as the site undergoes redevelopment Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The two chimneys of Liddell coal-fired power station have come crashing down, marking the close of a site which provided energy for New South Wales for half a century. In a demolition streamed online on Tuesday, the two 170m stacks of the Hunter Valley power station, own
Decommissioned power station's chimneys crash to the ground in livestreamed demolition – video
AGL has destroyed two giant chimney stacks at the defunct Liddell coal-fired power plant. The power station in the NSW Hunter Valley closed in 2023 after operating for more than 50 years Read more: Power bills to fall by up to 10% from July as renewables and batteries soar across Australia Continue reading...
170m chimneys come crashing down as power station demolition begins
The demolition of the Liddell Power Station, which powered homes and businesses in NSW for more than 50 years, is underway.