The Australian state of Queensland has revealed plans to build two massive pumped hydro facilities, including one that could provide 5 GW of storage.
“These are projects of national significance on a scale not seen since the construction of Snowy Hydro – bigger than Snowy Hydro,” said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
The 2 GW Borumba Pumped Hydro project near Brisbane has been in the cards for some time and is scheduled for completion by 2030. The scale of the bigger Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project was only revealed this week.
“It will be the largest pumped hydro energy storage in the world, with 5 GW of 24-hour storage and the potential for stage 1 to be completed by 2032,” said Palaszczuk, noting that the preferred site for the project is near Mackay.
As part of the plan, the Queensland government is now aiming for 70% of the state's energy supply to come from renewable energy by 2032, and 80% by 2035. These targets will be legislated, said the premier. For reference, currently less than one-quarter of Queensland’s electricity comes from renewables.
The Queensland government also plans to convert its publicly owned coal power stations to clean energy hubs from 2027.
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“Infrastructure at the clean energy hubs will include: continuing to use the large spinning turbines at the power stations to provide strength for the energy system to take more renewables; grid scale batteries; gas and then later hydrogen power stations; and maintenance hubs for nearby government-owned renewable wind and solar farms,” said Palaszczuk.
The plan includes a vision for a “Queensland SuperGrid” to connect solar, wind, battery and hydrogen generators across the state. This will unlock 22 GW of new renewable capacity, said the government.
“It is about turbo-charging new investment in new minerals, batteries and manufacturing,” said Palaszczuk.
Kane Thornton, CEO of the Clean Energy Council, praised the Queensland energy plan.
“This is a bold and transformational plan that will set Queensland up to be a world leader on clean energy,” said Thornton.
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It’s a pity, but the most important parameters are given rather incomprehensibly.
I guess the power (of the turbines) is 5 GW and the total storage capacity is enough for 24 hours times 5 GW, which gives a total of 120 GWh of energy storage. Is that so?
The new pumped storage plant ‘Nant de Drance’ in Switzerland, which has just opened, has a generator capacity of 900 MW and can produce a total of 20 GWh of energy with the water supply. It cost about 2 billion ($, €, CHF).
1 GW is roughly the output of a nuclear power plant.