Coal-fired power stations have been a driving force of the global economy for generations, providing work for millions of employees and supporting the livelihoods of countless communities around the world. So, how do those people cope when power stations are shut down to save the environment?

Power stations are one of the biggest causes of greenhouse gas emissions that increase global temperatures and trigger potentially catastrophic climate change. Coal accounted for more than 40% of the worldwide growth in carbon dioxide emissions in 2021 which hit an all-time high of 15.3 billion tonnes, according to the International Energy Agency.

United Nations-backed research indicates the world needs to achieve a 43% reduction in emissions before the end of the decade. However, they are currently on course to increase by 14% within that time span, in part because of the high price of natural gas.

Compassion amid Change

An outstanding example of this kind of engagement is the run-up to the closure of Yallourn Power Station in Victoria state, Australia, in 2028, four years earlier than originally planned. CLP Holdings subsidiary EnergyAustralia launched a A$10 million programme called Power Your Future – the first of its kind in the energy sector to provide transition support to workers more than 5 years before closure.

A 44-page handbook has been given to Yallourn’s 600-odd employees covering a range of services to help them look for other jobs, retire, or set themselves up in business. The programme offers personalised career planning, training support, and individual career coaching.

One-to-one discussions are being held with employees to identify their needs and future aspirations while training courses and workshops are arranged to give them the necessary skills to adjust to the transition. The programme also offers retirement and self-employment planning to ensure everyone receives the support they need.

In addition, financial advice and funding support to seed small businesses are also available with the aim of providing long-term benefits to the wider Latrobe Valley community surrounding the power station.

Keeping the Economy Alive

The first power station at Yallourn was built in 1921 and the site has provided more than a century of service to the people of Victoria, keeping the lights on for millions of homes and businesses across the state and supporting the surrounding Latrobe Valley community. In 2021, EnergyAustralia announced it was bringing forward the retirement of the power station as part of a planned closure agreed with the Victorian Government. 

The multimillion-dollar support programme to assist its workforce with the transition was welcomed by the Victorian Government, which said the plan would help the state as well as workers and contractors adjust to the transition to cleaner energy.

“Our state is well placed to continue delivering affordable and reliable power to Victorian homes and businesses, as well as creating thousands of new jobs – particularly in regional Victoria,” a spokesperson for the state Government said.

For employees at Yallourn Power Station, having a support network and people to talk to are crucial elements in coping with change. Employees are encouraged to speak to their team leaders or the Yallourn Transition Team to implement their goals and overcome challenges. EnergyAustralia’s employees and their family members can access confidential counselling support at any time through the company’s employee assistance programme.

Steve Dargan, who was a senior electrical engineer at Hazelwood Power Station before moving to his current role as principal electrical engineer for EnergyAustralia, says a good transition plan gives people the opportunity to work out what they really want to do and get the right training and skills to succeed in the energy transition.

“There's a whole heap of opportunities on the electricity side,” he says. “The generation system has to renew itself as we transition out of fossil fuels into greener sources of power. There's a huge amount of energy that has to be generated and that needs wires and generation sources, and people have to build them,” he explains.

Tash Agafonoff joined Yallourn Power Station as an assistant unit controller five years ago and worked her way up to become a unit controller through an on-the-job training programme. “I knew I had significant industry experience that I could hopefully draw on from my previous roles, but I didn't know if that's what they would be looking for when I applied,” she recalls.

Having an open mind is key to adapting to changes in the workplace, she argues. “I think it's a bit more daunting for someone if you've sort of worked in one type of area for your whole entire life. I’m quite open to all sorts of different options,” she says.

The priority for Yallourn Power Station’s maintenance leader Chris Kyriacou is to lead his team through the transition. “I'm really content with how we're handling it, and I just want to support more people through it,” he says.

A good transition plan should work for people at all different stages, he believes. “There are apprentices who are starting now and who will hopefully learn their trade before the closure. We also have people who may decide to seek different career opportunities and we can support them through that too,” he says.

“I've been fortunate, and doors are always open for me. I have no doubt that in 2028 or beyond, another door will open for me and I'll embrace it.”

EnergyAustralia Managing Director Mark Collette says the company is determined to ensure a smooth transition for its people at Yallourn Power Station and the surrounding community. “The programme supports any worker who calls Yallourn home, including contractors, with services to plan, prepare and train for the future,” Mark says.

EnergyAustralia strives to demonstrate that coal-fired power can exit the market in a responsible way that supports its people, customers, and the community. “We are doing this so the people of Yallourn have time to get ready for the closure while creating links to new employment before it occurs. This will, we believe, allow for a smooth transition,” he concludes.