Name of the Project
Snowy 2.0 pumped-hydro scheme.

Location
New South Wales, Australia.

Project Owner/s
Snowy Hydro.

Project Description
Snowy 2.0 is a major expansion of the existing Snowy Scheme, adding new pumped-hydro capability between Tantangara and Talbingo dams through an underground network of tunnels and a new underground power station.

The project will increase the Scheme’s generation capacity by up to 2 000 MW, and at full capacity, provide about 175 hours of energy storage – enough to power three-million homes for more than a week.

The project will involve underground excava­tion and tunnelling works between Tantangara and Talbingo to depths of up to 1 km. It will also involve surface works in several locations, including at the intake-outlet structures and surge shaft, as well as the cable and ventilation portal sites. Several supporting works will also be required, such as establishing or upgrading access tracks and roads, and electricity connections to construction sites.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
The project has been estimated at between $3.8-billion and $4.5-billion.

Planned Start /End Date
First power is expected in late 2024.

Latest Developments
The first of three large tunnel-boring machines (TBM’s) for Snowy 2.0 has arrived at Port Kembla.

Arriving aboard the AAL Shanghai, the components of the machine – some as heavy as 174 t – are being lifted from the vessel and onto a special trailer that will transport them to storage, ready for transport to the project site. The operation is a complex one, given the size of the components.

Built by CREG in China, the TBM is 135 m long and 11 m in diameter. Its special feature is its ability to excavate a tunnel with a descendent of 9% for 2 660 m to access the underground cavern where the project’s power plant will be built.

Exploratory construction work has been under way for more than 12 months, with about 500 people already working on the project.

The main access tunnel is expected to start excavating by the end of the year. Once the TBM has completed the tunnel, it will continue excavating the tailrace tunnel of 5 800 m.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Future Generation (preferred tenderer for civil works); Voith Hydro (preferred electrical and mechanical tenderer); Leed Engineering (exploratory works preconstruction activities); Future Generation joint venture comprising Webuild (formerly Salini Impregilo), its US subsidiary Lane and local partner Clough (construction); and CREG (TBMs).

Contact Details for Project Information
Snowy Hydro, tel + 61 2 6453 2888 or email info@snowyhydro.com.au.