Overview
Coral Bay Diesel Backup is a 2.24 MW diesel power plant in Coral Bay, Australia, operated by Verve Energy. It provides backup power generation for the remote coastal community.
Coral Bay Diesel Backup is a small-scale diesel power plant located in Coral Bay, Western Australia, with a capacity of 2.24 MW. Operated by Verve Energy, the facility serves as a backup power source for this remote coastal community, which relies on a mix of diesel and renewable energy for its electricity needs. The plant uses diesel (oil) as its primary fuel, a common choice for remote and off-grid locations in Australia due to its reliability and ease of transport. While diesel generation is efficient for backup purposes, it typically has higher emissions per megawatt-hour compared to natural gas or renewable sources. The facility operates under Australian national and state environmental regulations, which set standards for emissions and fuel storage. As a backup plant, Coral Bay Diesel Backup plays a critical role in ensuring grid stability and energy security for the Coral Bay area, which is a popular tourist destination. Its small capacity reflects its niche role, complementing the region's growing renewable energy infrastructure, such as solar and wind projects, to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Environmental context
The plant's diesel fuel type results in higher CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions per unit of electricity compared to natural gas or renewables. Its location in a remote coastal area with sensitive marine and terrestrial ecosystems requires careful management of fuel storage and emissions to minimize local environmental impact. The small capacity (2.24 MW) limits its overall footprint, but as a backup facility, its operational hours are typically low, reducing cumulative emissions.
Frequently asked questions
Coral Bay Diesel Backup is located in Coral Bay, Western Australia, a remote coastal town approximately 1,100 km north of Perth.
The plant has a capacity of 2.24 megawatts (MW), making it a small-scale diesel backup facility.
The plant is owned and operated by Verve Energy, a Western Australian government-owned electricity generator.
Diesel power plants in Australia must comply with the National Environment Protection Council (NEPC) standards for air quality, as well as state-based regulations for emissions and fuel storage. The Australian government also sets emission reduction targets under the Paris Agreement.
As a backup plant, it provides emergency power during outages or peak demand, supporting grid stability in Coral Bay, which relies on a mix of diesel and renewable energy sources.