5 things you need to know about pumped hydro in Queensland

A cornerstone of the landmark Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan includes progressing the development of the largest pumped hydro energy storage project in the world.

Pumped hydro is so hot right now – but what does it mean for you and what should you know about it?

1. $273.5 million has been set aside to advance consideration of two pumped hydro projects

Borumba pumped hydro: Located near Imbil, on the Sunshine Coast this site has been undergoing detailed design and cost analysis, and consultation with the local community. This project could power up to 2 million homes.

Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro: Located in North Queensland, west of Mackay, initial studies are underway for this site.

2. Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro will be the largest in the world

This site could be the largest pumped hydro energy storage in the world at 5 gigawatts, with potential generation capacity 2.5 times that of Snowy 2.0. Snowy 2.0 is a pumped hydro project in New South Wales which, once complete, will generate enough electricity for 500,000 homes during peak demand.

3. Pumped hydro is considered on demand power

Pumped hydro can generate power whenever it’s needed and it’s already widely used around the world, accounting for about 97% of energy storage worldwide.

The mechanics of pumped hydro are relatively straightforward. Water is pumped up the mountain from a lower reservoir into an upper reservoir for storage using solar power. When power is needed, water is released from the upper reservoir into the lower reservoir, generating energy as it passes through a turbine. This means hydroelectricity can be generated almost immediately and at any time. The water used for pumped hydro can be reused, making it a truly renewable energy source.

This form of energy, and its ability for long-duration storage, is critical because it means Queensland can be confident in having reliable energy supply even during times when renewable energy generation from wind and solar is low.

4. Queensland’s Pumped Hydro Energy Storage assets will remain in the hands of the public.

These foundational investments will be owned by Queensland and managed in the best interest of Queensland electricity consumers.

To ensure this the Queensland Government will establish a new publicly owned entity, Queensland Hydro, to develop these assets.

5. More jobs in the regions

These two projects will support around 4,000 construction jobs a year over a 10-year period. Once completed, both will create new jobs for Queenslanders in a variety of areas, from engineering to maintenance and administration.