NSW Government declares Muswellbrook Pumped Hydro Critical State Significant Infrastructure
AGL and joint venture partner, Idemitsu Australia, welcome the Muswellbrook Pumped Hydro project receiving Critical State Significant Infrastructure status from the NSW Government.
The proposed 400 MW 8-hour storage Muswellbrook Pumped Hydro plant is expected to provide power and grid support services at critical times, pumping water uphill when there is excess energy from solar and wind and releasing water to generate power in times of high energy demand.
AGL’s General Manager, Energy Hubs, Travis Hughes outlined the important role the plant could play in providing long-duration storage for NSW.
“We are pleased the Government recognises the critical role this project could play in providing essential long-duration storage for the NSW electricity grid.
“The 400 MW Muswellbrook Pumped Hydro plant is expected to have a 100-year asset life and provide eight hours of energy storage. That’s four times the storage duration and five times the asset life of most current battery storage systems. The project has the potential to create 250 jobs during construction and 20 ongoing jobs during operation.”
Idemitsu Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Steve Kovac said: “The Muswellbrook Pumped Hydro project will provide on-demand source of energy generation. We believe this is critical to delivering renewable energy at lower prices and will benefit both the community and businesses.
“This project is part of Australia’s renewable energy future. It demonstrates a genuine opportunity for post mining land use that creates significant ongoing value to NSW, along with direct employment and economic benefits to the regional communities of the Hunter Valley.”
Pumped hydro works by circulating water from a lower reservoir into an upper storage reservoir, with the proposed Muswellbrook Pumped Hydro project utilising an innovative model whereby an existing mine void from Idemitsu Australia’s Muswellbrook site which acts as the lower reservoir. Upon demand, water is released from the upper storage site and uses gravity to turn turbines and generate electricity.
The plant would be located near the town of Muswellbrook in the Hunter Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone and has been awarded $9.45 million funding under the NSW Government’s Pumped Hydro Recoverable Grants Program.
First generation is targeted for 2029 if advanced development studies are successful, and the project receives final investment decision and government approvals.