53: Callide C Blackout

In 2021 the Callide C Power Station experienced a unit failure that tore the turbine-generator apart, resulted in hundreds of thousands of premises losing power, and cost hundreds of millions to repair. We look at how design errors and ultimately a lack of information led to the incident escalating out of control, when it could have been recovered.
With John Chidgey.

Formal Reports:

• Callide Unit C4 Turbine Generator Failure 25 May 2021 (PDF)


• Animation of the Callide Unit C4 incident


• Trip of multiple generators and lines in Central Queensland and associated under-frequency load shedding on 25 May 2021 (PDF)

News Releases and Articles:

• CS Energy releases report into 2021 Callide C4 Unit Failure


• CS Energy releases technical report into 2021 Unit C4 incident


• Dr Sean Brady to lead independent investigation into Callide incident


• Battery failure led to power plant mass outage


• Both units trip at Callide C on Wednesday 13th January 2021


• Statement regarding IG Power


• Intergen voluntary administration


• Report says Callide C4 incident “could not have been anticipated”


• Callide explosion blamed on battery charger failure


• Callide Power Trading taken to court over system failure


• CS Energy says insurers won’t agree to $300m claim over power station


• Jim Soorley stands down from CS Energy


• CS Energy Post about Incident on LinkedIn

Super-Critical Boilers:

• Super-Critical Boiler Technology (PDF)


• Supercritical Fluids


• Supercritical Coal Plants

Electrical Engineering References:

• Hydrogen-cooled Turbo Generator


• Reverse Active Power Protection (ANSI 32P)

Court Action:

• Alleged failure to obtain regulatory approval to operate a generating system


• Notice of Filing: Australian Energy Regulator v Callide Power Trading Pty Ltd (PDF)


• Coal generator to face court over blackouts caused by catastrophic explosion

General Information:

• Callide Power Station


• Stanwell Power Station


• Tarong Power Station


• Callide Power Station


• CS Energy: Water Management

NOTE: Minor Corrections in audio updated: 31st March, 2024

Support Causality on Patreon

Episode Gold Producers:
'r' and Steven Bridle.
Episode Silver Producers:
Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Lesley, Jared Roman, Joel Maher, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Ian Gallagher.