Snowy 2.0 Feasibility Study
- $8m Funded by ARENA
- $29m Total project cost
Summary
The Snowy 2.0 feasibility study confirms that the Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro expansion project is both technically and financially feasible.
Snowy 2.0 would deliver 2000 MW of additional dispatchable generation capacity and 350,000 MWh of storage. The construction would involve building an underground hydro-electric power station and 27 kilometres of tunnels connecting two existing reservoirs in the Snowy Mountains.
Snowy Hydro already plays a critical role in ensuring system stability and at times of peak demand, the ability to keep the lights on. The feasibility study shows how Snowy 2.0 will enhance this current capability and continue to provide increased stability and security to the energy market.
Area of innovation
The Snowy 2.0 feasibility study recognises that as the economy decarbonises, more intermittent generation (such as wind and solar) will enter the market as baseload coal generation continues to retire. This creates the need for new sources of dispatchable energy generation such as pumped-hydro as well as the need for large-scale storage.
Learn more
Report: National Electricity Market (NEM) Outlook and Snowy 2.0
This report presents the findings of an independent study by Marsden Jacob Associates of the changing nature of wholesale energy supply in the National Electricity Market.
Media Release: Snowy 2.0 Feasibility Study Released
ARENA is pleased to welcome the feasibility study for Snowy 2.0 released today.
Benefit
Snowy Hydro already has the capability to store huge amounts of energy. While this capability is currently sufficient for the National Electricity Market (NEM), it will not be enough in the future given increasing decarbonisation. The NEM covers the states of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Snowy 2.0 is critical to helping provide Australian businesses and households with reliable, stable and affordable energy in the future.
ARENAWIRE Blogs
How could pumped hydro energy storage power our future?
Reservoirs of water are poised to play a key role storing renewable energy to bolster the grid.
Snowy 2.0 gets green light
Snowy 2.0 has been given the green light, after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the project had been officially approved and confirmed nearly $1.4 billion in Commonwealth funding for the massive pumped hydro project.
Will pumped hydro unlock the transition to renewables?
Could Australia’s oldest renewable source of energy be the key to a renewable energy future?
The plan from Snowy River
As Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull surveyed the site of the future project known as Snowy 2.0 he could not have been clearer about the importance he is placing upon it.
