Engineering:Snowy 2.0 Pumped Storage Power Station

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Short description: Pumped-hydro battery in New South Wales, Australia

Snowy 2.0 Pumped Storage Power Station
CountryAustralia
LocationSnowy Mountains
StatusUnder construction
Construction began2019; 5 years ago (2019)
Construction costAUD 12 billion[1]
Owner(s)Snowy Hydro
External links
Websitehttps://www.snowyhydro.com.au/
[edit on Wikidata]

Snowy 2.0 Pumped Storage Power Station or Snowy Hydro 2.0 is a pumped-hydro battery megaproject in New South Wales, Australia. The dispatchable generation project expands upon the original Snowy Mountains Scheme(ex post facto Snowy 1.0) connecting two existing dams through a 27-kilometre (17 mi) underground tunnel and a new, underground pumped-hydro power station.[2] Construction began in 2019.[2] It is expected to supply 2.2 gigawatts of capacity and about 350,000 megawatt hours of large-scale storage to the national electricity market.[3][4] It is the largest renewable energy project under construction in Australia.[5] It includes one of the largest and deepest cavern excavations ever undertaken.[6]

It is designed for grid stabilization; to be a backup at times of peak demand and for when solar and wind energy are not providing power.[7] Snowy Hydro acts like a giant battery by absorbing, storing, and dispatching energy.[3] The battery is designed to operate for up to 175 hours of temporary supply.[8] It is Australia's largest energy project,[9] estimated to cost 12 billion Australian dollars. By 2023, AU$4.3 billion had been spent.[1] The project is led by public company Snowy Hydro Limited.[9] When complete it is expected to have a large impact on the price and reliability of electric power.[10]

History

Initial plans for a power station at the location were discussed in 1966.[11] Further studies were undertaken in 1980 and 1990.[11] The current project originated as the centrepiece of Malcolm Turnbull's climate change policy in 2017.[12] A feasibility study carried out in 2017 finding the project was both technically and financially feasible.[11] The study was released on 21 December 2017 and found the project cost would be between $3.8 and 4.5 billion.[13]

The first tunnel that was completed by October 2022, was a 2.85 kilometre section that provided main access at Lobs Hole.[14] It was 10 metres in diameter and provides pedestrian and vehicle access into the power station.[14] By May 2023 the emergency, cable and ventilation tunnel was excavated.[15] It is 2.93 kilometre long, 10 metres in diameter and will be used for power station ventilation and high-voltage cables.[15] Excavation of the transformer and machines halls began in June 2023.[6]

It was originally expected to be completed by 2024.[16][17] Snowy Hydro 2.0 has been beset by delays and cost blowouts.[12][7][4] Delays have been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, global supply chain disruptions, complex design elements and variable site and geological conditions.[8] The delays have raised concerns that Snowy Hydro will not be ready in time for new solar and wind projects coming online as five coal-fired power stations close.[7] AEMO warns that supply gaps will emerge from 2025.[4] The project is currently expected to be fully operational by the end of 2028 and generating power as early as late 2027.[5]

The project is using three tunnel boring machines to dig tunnels.[12] One of the machines, called Florence was stuck for 19 months after encountering soft rock near Tantangara.[17] Florence launched in March 2022. Eight weeks later the machine was bogged in wet soft ground. The machine is capable of digging 30 to 50 metres a day. In December 2022, a sinkhole opened up above the tunnel.[17]

Design and location

It is located remotely within the Kosciuszko National Park in the Snowy Mountains.[3] Snowy Hydro 2.0 will use water from the Talbingo Reservoir (bottom storage) and Tantangara Reservoir (top storage).[10] The new power station is being built by the Italian firm Webuild.[18] It will be located in a cavern 800 metres underground.[10] The underground location allows for reduced environmental impacts within the national park. The operational footprint of the facility is less than 0.01% of the total size of the park.[19]

The power station will measure 22 metres (m) wide, 50 m high and 250 m long.[9] The station will house six reversible Francis pump-turbine and motor-generator units.[16] Three units will be of variable speed with the remaining of synchronous speed. Each turbine will have a rated output of 333 megawatts.[20] Power generating equipment is being supplied by Voith.[20]

It will be connected to the grid via the HumeLink transmission line.[12][21] The construction of overhead power lines by TransGrid has been opposed by community advocacy groups.[22] Landholders desire to see the transmission line built underground have been opposed due to prohibitive costs.[22]

See also

  • List of megaprojects
  • List of pumped-storage hydroelectric power stations
  • List of power stations in New South Wales
  • Renewable energy in Australia

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Vorrath, Sophie (31 August 2023). "Bowen confirms $12bn Snowy 2.0 cost blowout, says pitfalls should have been known" (in en-AU). https://reneweconomy.com.au/bowen-confirms-12bn-snowy-2-0-cost-blowout-says-pitfalls-should-have-been-known/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "History". https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/about/history/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "The next generation of hydropower in Australia". 15 October 2022. https://www.smec.com/project/snowy-2-0-pumped-storage-project/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Morton, Adam; Rose, Tamsin; Hannam, Peter (3 May 2023). "Snowy Hydro 2.0 project hit by delay of up to two years and another cost blowout". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/03/snowy-hydro-20-project-hit-by-delay-of-up-to-two-years-and-another-cost-blowout. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lowrey, Tom (31 August 2023). "Snowy Hydro expansion hits reset button as costs blow out to $12 billion". ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-31/snowy-hydro-reset-project-to-cost-12-billion/102797650. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cook, Kody (9 January 2024). "Milestone for Snowy 2.0". Monkey Media. https://utilitymagazine.com.au/milestone-for-snowy-2-0/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Toscano, Nick; Foley, Mike (3 May 2023). "Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro project hit with new delays, cost blowouts". The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/snowy-2-0-pumped-hydro-project-hit-with-new-delays-cost-blowouts-20230503-p5d55l.html. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Timeline, budget reset for Snowy 2.0 pumped storage". 5 April 2023. https://www.hydroreview.com/business-finance/snowy-hydro-resetting-timeline-budget-for-snowy-2-0-pumped-storage/. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Snowy 2.0: A pumped-storage plant of colossal proportions". 20 July 2022. https://tractebel-engie.com/en/news/2022/snowy-2-0-a-pumped-storage-plant-psp-of-colossal-proportions. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Ziffer, Daniel (6 January 2023). "Snowy Hydro could change our electricity grid and bring cheap power. But we have to build it". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-06/snowy-hydro-could-change-our-electricity-grid-bring-cheap-power/101795640. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Cella, Lauren (24 January 2020). "Snowy 2.0 underway". https://www.pumpindustry.com.au/snowy-2-0-underway/. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Dhanji, Krishani (3 May 2023). "Snowy Hydro 2.0 pumped-hydro battery project faces a further two years of delays". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-03/snow-hydro-delayed-for-further-two-years/102295662. 
  13. ↑ "Snowy 2.0 feasibility study released". 20 December 2017. https://arena.gov.au/news/snowy-2-0-feasibility-study-released/. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Milestone first tunnel completed for Snowy 2.0". 11 October 2022. https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/news/milestone-first-tunnel-completed-for-snowy-2-0/. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Eastaway, Gail (26 May 2023). "Tunnel vision turns to reality in Snowy Hydro 2.0 milestone". Riotact. https://the-riotact.com/tunnel-vision-turns-to-reality-in-snowy-hydro-2-0-milestone/664787. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Snowy 2.0 Hydropower Project, New South Wales". Verdict Media. https://www.power-technology.com/projects/snowy-2-0-hydropower-project/. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Grigg, Angus; Robinson, Lesley; Gock, Kamin. "A sinkhole, toxic gas and the $2 billion mistake behind Snowy 2.0's blowout". ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-23/snowy-hydro-sinkhole-toxic-gas-tunnelling-four-corners/102995568. 
  18. ↑ "Snowy 2.0 : Webuild Group". https://www.webuild-group.com.au/en/what-we-do/projects/snowy20/. 
  19. ↑ "FAQs". https://www.snowyhydro.com.au/snowy-20/faqs/. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Voith Snowy 2.0". ICN Gateway. https://gateway.icn.org.au/project/4447/voith-snowy-2-0. 
  21. ↑ "HumeLink inches ahead as state inquiry rules out putting lines underground" (in en-AU). 31 August 2023. https://reneweconomy.com.au/humelink-inches-ahead-as-state-inquiry-rules-out-putting-lines-underground/. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Burke, Conor (31 August 2023). "Inquiry deems Transgrid's HumeLink energy transmission project will remain above ground". ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-31/transgrid-humelink-energy-transmission-inquiry-finding-overland/102795606. 

External links




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