Name of the Project
Snowy Mountains Scheme 2.0 project.

Location
The project is located in Australia’s Southern Alps.

Client
Snowy Hydro.

Project Description
The Snowy Mountain project includes:
• nine power stations – Murray 1, Murray 2, Blowering, Guthega, Tumut 1 (located 366 m below ground level), Tumut 2 (located 244 m below ground level), Tumut 3, the Jounama small hydropower station and the Jindabyne mini hydropower station;
• one pumpstation at Jindabyne and pump-storage capability at the Tumut 3 power station;
• 16 major dams with a total storage capacity of 7 000 Gℓ;
• 145 km of interconnected tunnels and pipelines and 80 km of aqueducts; and
• 33 hydroelectric turbines with a generating capacity of 4 100 MW.

The project proposes the expansion of the pumped-storage scheme, its first expansion since the hydropower plant was completed in 1974.

The proposal could increase the scheme’s capacity by up to 50%, or about 2 000 MW of new renewable-energy, and act as rapid response backup to fill the gaps in energy supply caused by intermittent renewables and generator outages.

Jobs to Be Created
Not stated

Value
A cost for the project has not been announced, but estimates have pegged it at an estimated A$2-billion.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Snowy Hydro and the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC) Australia will undertake the feasibility study into the potential expansion of the scheme’s pumped hydrostorage capability.

The feasibility study will explore the physical, technical and environmental requirements for expansion of pumped hydro at sites across the scheme, the potential output of new pumped hydro facilities and the costs associated with each project.

The study is expected to be completed before the end of this year, with construction starting soon thereafter.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
SMEC (feasibility study).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

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