Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, announced today that the first Trent 60 gas turbine electrical generating package installed in Australia has officially begun service. The announcement was made in conjunction with the formal opening of the Tamar Valley power station at Bell Bay, near George Town, on the Tamar River in Tasmania.
Operated by Aurora Energy (Tamar Valley), trading as AETV Power, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aurora Energy, the Trent 60 wet low emissions (WLE) dual-fuel electrical generating set was ordered in 2007 and began operation in March of this year. The first Trent 60 power was supplied to the Tasmanian electric power grid in April. Capable of providing up to 58MW of electrical power for back-up electricity when required, as well as peaking capacity to the Tasmanian grid, the Trent 60 package has recorded over 2,000hr of operation to date.
Commenting on the successful installation of the Trent 60, Tony Davis, regional director for Australia and New Zealand for Rolls-Royce, said: “The Trent 60 gas turbine power generation package will deliver an efficient and low emission source of electricity for the local community over the long term. The first Rolls-Royce gas turbine electric generating sets in Australia were installed in 1968 here at the Bell Bay site, so we are very pleased that the first Trent 60 is installed close by.”
The Trent 60 WLE engine is designed to meet stringent environmental requirements, including reduction of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, which is a particular focus of both the Australian federal and state governments.
The Tamar Valley installation continues to expand the installed fleet of Trent 60 power generation packages around the world. In addition to the Australia region, the Rolls-Royce Trent 60 has been ordered for, or is installed in, new power stations in Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, New Caledonia (Canada), Slovakia, Sharjah (the UAE), the UK and the US.