Environment

Reliable Energy, Responsible Operations 

As a major energy supplier to the Australian National Electricity Market, Vales Point Power Station is dedicated to the efficient, safe, and reliable production of electricity for industries and communities.

We recognise the potential environmental impacts of our operations and are committed to high environmental standards and strict compliance with legislation to minimise these effects. Our approach is guided by Delta's Environment Policy and Environmental Management System, ensuring responsible and sustainable practices.

At Delta, we are proud to support the community with reliable power while maintaining a strong commitment to environmental responsibility.

Commitment to Environmental Excellence

ISO 14001 is the internationally recognised standard for environmental management systems (EMS), providing a framework for organizations to enhance their environmental performance.

Vales Point Power Station has proudly maintained certification to this standard since 2002, when Delta became the first electricity generator in New South Wales to achieve this milestone.

To ensure ongoing compliance and continuous improvement, Delta undergoes annual third-party audits to verify that ISO 14001 requirements are met, reinforcing our commitment to sustainable and responsible operations.

Transparency in Environmental Reporting

The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) provides the community, industry, and government with valuable information on the types and amounts of substances released into the environment. Over 4,000 facilities across Australia report annually to the NPI, covering a wide range of industries.

At Vales Point, we prioritise accurate and transparent reporting by primarily using direct measurement methods, including water sampling, continuous monitoring systems, and stack gas testing to calculate annual emissions. Where direct measurement is not possible, we apply NPI-approved emission factors or other estimation techniques.

Detailed annual emission reports for Vales Point Power Station are publicly available on the NPI website. To access our reports, visit the NPI site, select ‘Browse latest data by Company’, and search for Delta.

Sustainable Water Management

Fresh water is a vital resource in electricity generation, used for high-purity steam production, condensate cooling, domestic supply, and dust suppression.

Vales Point Power Station draws cooling water from Chain Valley Bay on Lake Macquarie to support its operations. In 2008, a water reclamation plant was installed at Vales Point, significantly improving water efficiency. This plant reclaims treated sewage water for use in the demineralization process, saving up to 230 million litres of fresh water annually.

The Energy Supply Association of Australia recognized this initiative with a Sustainable Practice Framework Award for Industry Innovation, Best Practice Community Consultation, and Stakeholder Support, highlighting Delta’s commitment to sustainable water management.

 Sustainable Management of Ash

Coal combustion products (CCPs) like fly ash, furnace bottom ash and cenospheres are solid by-products of coal fuelled electricity. 

At Vales Point Power Station dry fly ash is collected from dust collection plant and transported to an onsite facility where it is processed for reuse. Bottom ash is collected at the ash dam from a wet sluice stream for processing and sale for reuse. Cenospheres are minute floating spherical particles found in the ash dam are also harvested and processed for sale. 

Delta is supporting innovation and environmental sustainability in collaboration with UniqueCem Pty Ltd by utilising fly ash from Vales Point and slag from steel mills as a cement replacement in low carbon concrete products. 

The UniqueCem product provides an affordable alternative to traditional cement and delivers the same durability and strength, ensuring high-quality results without compromising on environmental responsibility.

For more information: https://www.uniquecem.com.au

Delta has co-sponsored a research project with University of Newcastle and Daracon Group at the Smartcrete CRC to develop a new concrete mix using bottom ash as supplementary cementitious material and partial sand replacement.

This concrete utilises industrial by-products resulting in a lower embodied carbon content compared to traditional concrete and reduces the need to source natural and finite sands.

For more information: On-Site at a Trial Pour for Eco-Friendly Concrete - Smartcrete

There is currently a modest market for fly ash reuse as a cement replacement as well as in road construction and other building materials uses. Delta continually reviews opportunities to recycle fly ash with the excess ash wet sluiced to the ash dam for storage.

The Vales Point ash dam is divided into separate ponds and as each pond reaches capacity, it is capped with soil and revegetated.

Continuous monitoring and rigorous environmental management programs are designed to minimise the impacts of ash storage at all Delta locations.

The operations of the ash dam require the annual NSW Dams Safety Standards reports to be published. The latest reports are provided below:

Annual-Dams-Safety-Standards-Report -Vales Point Ash Dam

Annual Safety Standards Report - Mannering Creek Ash Dam