Vales Point Turbine Upgrade Project (Revoked)

The Vales Point Turbine Upgrade Project (Revoked) is an industrial efficiency project located at the Vales Point Power Station in Mannering Park, New South Wales. Situated on the southern shores of Lake Macquarie, approximately 35km south of Newcastle and 80km north of Sydney, the facility operates within a region defined by heavy industry, residential suburbs, and conservation areas. The project was registered in August 2018 but was revoked in June 2023.

The project operated under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Facilities) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology is designed for large facilities that report under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) scheme. It rewards improvements in energy efficiency that reduce the emissions intensity of production, in this case, upgrading steam turbine components to generate more electricity for every tonne of coal burned.

The Lake Macquarie region experiences a temperate climate with high average rainfall, typically recording between 1100mm and 1300mm annually. The local soil profile is complex, often characterized by dispersive clays (sodosols or kurosols) on the slopes and sandy, potentially acid sulfate soils near the lake margins and ash dam areas. The surrounding land use is a mix of power generation, underground coal mining (such as the nearby Chain Valley Colliery), and nature reserves like the Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area.

This project was subject to significant public attention prior to its revocation. The proponent, Delta Power & Energy, had initially sought federal grants to fund the turbine upgrades, a move that drew controversy given the facility's age and profitability. Ultimately, the request for public funding was withdrawn, and the carbon project itself was voluntarily revoked in 2023, shortly after the power station was sold to new owners, Sev.en Global Investments.