Darling Downs (DDPS1)

Coal · Origin Energy Power Limited · Turbine - CCGT

Operational AEMO: In Service QLD1 Fossil - Coal Seam Methane NEM data · 24 hours
645 MW
Registered nameplate capacity
24 hours revenue
$441.6k
Capacity factor
41.0%
Revenue / MWh
$69.70
Est. SRMC
$3.31/MWh

Energy flow

Dispatch target (cleared) vs availability — 5‑minute intervals. QLD1 regional price (RRP) on right axis.

Key information
Capacity
645 MW

AEMO status In Service
Project status Operational (AI)

Origin Energy generation page (originenergy.com.au) says Darling Downs now operates in peaking mode; Origin blog notes the plant remains in service as Queensland’s largest CCGT.

Region QLD1
Coordinates -27.11690, 150.89420 (AI)

Global Energy Monitor / Open Infrastructure Map place Darling Downs Power Station at approximately -27.1169, 150.8942 in Kogan, Queensland.

MLF 0.9667
DUID DDPS1
Owner Origin Energy Power Limited
Commissioned
Expected closure 2045
Closure date
Technology Turbine - CCGT
Fuel Fossil - Coal Seam Methane
Equipment OEM GE
Equipment type / model 7F.03 gas turbines
Secondary OEM Duke Energy / CH2M Hill (EPC)
Secondary equipment combined-cycle steam turbine and HRSG train
Equipment confidence medium
Stats window
13 Jun 2026 07:35 → 14 Jun 2026 07:35 AEST

Dispatch & revenue

13 Jun 2026 07:35 → 14 Jun 2026 07:35 AEST

Energy revenue (× MLF)
$441.6k
FCAS revenue (× MLF)
$0
FCAS volume
MWh
Dispatched
6,336.2 MWh
Available
5,999.2 MWh
Curtailed
146.5 MWh
Curtailment
2.4%
of available
MLF used
0.9667
end of period

Revenue (× MLF)

Estimated $ per interval — energy (RRP) and FCAS (regional FCAS prices), both × MLF.

Methodology & assumptions

  • Dispatch & availability — AEMO Next Day Dispatch UNIT_SOLUTION (5‑minute intervals). Intervention intervals excluded.
  • Regional pricedispatch_price RRP matched by settlement time and NEM region (from generator registry).
  • Energy revenue (× MLF) — cleared MW × (5/60 h) × RRP × MLF.
  • FCAS revenue & volume — cleared FCAS MW from DISPATCHLOAD (raise/lower 6s, 60s, 5min, reg) × (5/60 h) × regional FCAS price × MLF. Volume is total FCAS enablement MWh across services.
  • Curtailment — estimated economic curtailment when availability exceeds dispatch target: max(0, availability − cleared) × (5/60) MWh.
  • Not settlement — estimates only. AEMO settlement applies DLF, rebids, constraints, and other factors not modelled here.
MLF history (AEMO daily)
Effective fromMLF
2024-07-01 0.9627
2025-07-01 0.9667

Financial overview

2026 real AUD. Monetary values are CPI-adjusted to 2026 real Australian dollars. Greenfield capex uses AEMO benchmarks when plant-specific cost is unknown.
Type
Other
Capacity
645 MW
Revenue (× MLF) (stats)
See dispatch stats link above
Est. SRMC
$3.31/MWh
Capex total (greenfield)
$1,291.39M

Shown in table
$1,291.39M (2026 real AUD)

Reported / source value
$780.00M (2007 nominal)
Adjusted to 2026 real AUD using Australian CPI (All Groups).

How this was derived
Reports the Darling Downs power station construction contract value as $780 million.

Reference
Deal signed on Darling Downs gas-fired power station (high confidence)
Source recorded 07 Jun 2026

Capex refurbishment
Capex / MW derived
$2,003,709

Shown in table
$2.00M (2026 real AUD)

Reported / source value
$1.21M (2007 nominal)
Adjusted to 2026 real AUD using Australian CPI (All Groups).

How this was derived
Per-MW capex calculated from the reported project cost and the user-provided capacity.

Reference
Deal signed on Darling Downs gas-fired power station (high confidence)
Source recorded 07 Jun 2026

Fixed OPEX (annual)
$15.01M

Shown in table
$15.01M (2026 real AUD)

Reported / source value
$9.07M (2007 nominal)
Adjusted to 2026 real AUD using Australian CPI (All Groups).

How this was derived
Calculated annual fixed O&M from the per-MW benchmark and provided capacity.

Reference
2024 Energy Technology Cost and Technical Parameter Review (high confidence)
Source recorded 07 Jun 2026

Fixed OPEX / MW-yr
$23,288

Shown in table
$23.3k (2026 real AUD)

Reported / source value
$14.1k (2007 nominal)
Adjusted to 2026 real AUD using Australian CPI (All Groups).

How this was derived
Provides the generic large CCGT fixed O&M cost per MW for the review year.

Reference
2024 Energy Technology Cost and Technical Parameter Review (high confidence)
Source recorded 07 Jun 2026

Variable OPEX / MWh
$3.31

Shown in table
$3.31 (2026 real AUD)

Reported / source value
$2.00 (2007 nominal)
Adjusted to 2026 real AUD using Australian CPI (All Groups).

How this was derived
Default fallback retained because no plant-specific or clearly extractable benchmark value was found in the searched sources.

Fuel cost / GJ
Heat rate GJ/MWh
7.38

Shown in table
$7.38 (2026 real AUD)

How this was derived
AEMO heat-rate table lists Darling Downs at 7.38 GJ/MWh (static heat rate).

Reference
Heat rates (high confidence)
Source recorded 07 Jun 2026

Confidence: medium · Status: ai estimated · Capex basis: reported · AI checked 07 Jun 2026

Notes
Greenfield construction cost sourced from Queensland Government/ABC reporting on Origin's Darling Downs gas-fired power station. The 2007 construction contract was $780 million and the station was said to be 630 MW when announced; the registered unit capacity provided by the user is 644.5 MW, so per-MW capex is calculated on the provided capacity. Fixed O&M and heat rate use AEMO generic/existing-generator values for Darling Downs from the heat-rate table; emissions intensity is an inferred approximate value from public reporting on Darling Downs CSG-fired generators, not a plant-specific verified NGER figure. The station was reported online in 2010.

Sources