Everllence’s fast-start gas engines are emerging as a reliable firming solution for Australia’s grid.
The recent surge in demand for gas-fired power generators in Australia is real, and this is not solely derived from the data-centre industry.
Gas plants are seen as critical system-security assets as the country, state-by-state, phases out coal-fired power generation, with flexible generation capacity becoming increasingly important to maintain grid stability in a renewable-dominated energy system.
In Western Australia, all coal facilities are set to be retired by 2030, culminating in the closure of the Muja D power station. This will be followed by New South Wales and Victoria with closures occurring through the 2030s.
Queensland possesses the youngest coal-fired fleet in Australia, with the state’s plants to continue generating into the 2040s. Queensland hopes to have 4.1 gigawatts (GW) of gas-fired generation capacity installed by 2030.
As each coal asset closes, the need for reliable firming technologies increases. Batteries are filling this void over short durations, but when wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining, gas-powered balancing plants provide a fast-start backstop, turning on whenever called.
As demand for gas-fired generators increases, gas-engine solutions are attracting more attention across the market. German reciprocating gas engine manufacturer Everllence delivers end-to-end power solutions known for their reliability, versatility and energy efficiency.
“Our reciprocating engine technology is proven to be an extremely competitive alternative to traditional gas turbine solutions,” Everllence head of sales, power plant – Australia and Oceania Lachlan Colquhoun told Energy.
“While an aeroderivative turbine might take 10 to 15 minutes to start up, our 18V 51/60G gas engines can start from a standby condition to full load in about five minutes under typical Australian ambient conditions.
“Engine efficiency of approximately 50 per cent can be achieved in a single cycle, while our units remain cost competitive with less-efficient gas turbine solutions.”
Everllence’s 18V 51/60G gas engines can also perform at high temperatures.
“While other technologies typically lose power output at higher ambient temperatures, we don’t lose power up until above 45°C,” Colquhoun said.
“In Western Australia on a hot summer’s day, for example, when everyone comes home and turns on their air conditioners, gas plants are often called upon to support the demand peaks. We maintain full nameplate output while competitor performance often declines.”
This makes Everllence engines suitable to WA’s Reserve Capacity Mechanism, which provides annual payments to generators based on their output at 41°C, providing back-up support during peak demand events.
Stable and sustainable grid
The ability to perform at high temperatures is not only important in Western Australia, but other Australian states facing plus-40°C temperatures more regularly.
As Victoria and NSW undergo their own coal phase-out, Everllence’s gas-fired units will see increased demand for three reasons.
“Our units can support bulk energy supply and grid stability – two key markets in the energy transition – by being able to provide electricity supplies and firming capacity,” Colquhoun said.
Unlike other power generation technologies, Everllence’s reciprocating gas engines can continue operating at as little as 25 per cent of their rated output. This flexibility allows Australian operators to respond to fluctuations in wind and solar generation while maintaining grid stability, making the technology particularly well suited to balancing applications in renewable-dominated power systems.
The engines also offer future-proof fuel options. In addition to natural gas, they can operate on biofuels and synthetic methane, while blends containing up to 25 per cent hydrogen can be accommodated. This provides plant owners with a pathway to lower-carbon operation as Australia’s energy transition progresses.
“The third piece is system strength, which has traditionally been provided by rotating coal‑fired generators,” Colquhoun said.
“As those units retire, AEMO (the Australian Energy Market Operator) has been calling for more system-security technologies to be installed, such as synchronous condensers.
“Our engines can operate in synchronous condenser mode using a clutch, meaning we can provide the rotating mass needed to support these requirements.”
AEMO’s 2026 Integrated System Plan (ISP) outlined the need for $3 billion of system-security investment in the National Electricity Market (NEM) through to 2050 to enable an orderly energy transition, pointing to synchronous condensers as critical pieces to the puzzle.
The report also forecast the need for 17 gigawatts (GW) of flexible gas-powered capacity in the NEM by 2050.
“Individual (gas) plants would generate up to 10 per cent of their annual potential but will be critical when they run,” the ISP stated. “They may be needed as back-up capacity in peak demand periods and will be needed most on days with low renewable availability.”
This plays to Everllence’s strengths.
“We’re confident we’ll be an important part of the energy mix in Australia,” Colquhoun said. “Not only can we meet network needs but can do so with a more versatile, reliable and energy efficient system than many competitors can offer.”
Everllence in action
Everllence is already proven in several Australian applications, including a 30MW dual-fuel gas-fired plant providing baseload power for Alice Springs in the Northern Territory – a remote desert region where summer temperatures regularly exceed 40°C.
“We supplied and constructed an NT power station using our reciprocating engine technology in 2010, and there hasn’t been any significant issues since,” Colquhoun said. “It’s proven to be an extremely reliable plant even in the harsh desert climate.”
As Everllence continually evolves its product portfolio, the company is in the latter stages of developing a new gas‑fired reciprocating engine for the power generation market.
“We also supply core compressors and turbines into longer‑duration storage technologies like liquid air and compressed air energy storage,” Colquhoun said. “We’ve developed a package including the engine and an extensive scope of auxiliaries for the Australian market.
“This comprehensive package also accounts for the demands of Australian Standards, making it as simple and low‑risk as possible for Australian customers to design, purchase, and construct these plants.”
As gas-fired generation solidifies its role as a critical support mechanism in the National and Wholesale Electricity Markets, suppliers providing unique solutions will find their point of difference.
This is where Everllence is set to excel, delivering gas engines with rapid start-up, high energy efficiency and the versatility to meet a range of network needs.
The technology is well suited to Australia’s evolving energy landscape, combining reliable operation in high ambient temperatures with the flexibility to support growing renewable energy loads.