New pumped storage power plant in Down Under

Australia is driving forward the energy transition at a rapid pace: to further increase energy production from renewable sources, the country is increasingly relying on pumped storage technology. A particularly impressive example is currently being built around 350 kilometers southwest of Sydney in the state of New South Wales.

As part of the Snowy 2.0 project, the existing Talbingo and Tantangara reservoirs will be connected by an underground tunnel system and a cavern power plant. The new pumped storage power plant, which is located in the Kosciuszko National Park, has several advantages.

Snowy 2.0 will generate up to 2000 megawatts of hydropower in the future, supplying millions of Australians with green electricity every week. The large energy reserves of the upper reservoir make it possible to store surplus energy for up to a week. The power plant will therefore supply energy "on demand" - i.e. whenever it is needed.

Thanks to the ingenious system, not only will Australia's C02 emissions be reduced by 14.5 million tons per year in future - the plant will also help to stabilize the region's grid. The highlight: while the power plant generates additional energy at peak times, surplus solar and wind energy is used to pump water from the lower reservoir (Talbingo) back into the upper reservoir (Tantangara) when electricity demand is low.

On behalf of Snow Hydro Limited and the general contractor Future Generation Joint Venture, Lombardi is making a significant contribution to the realization of the project: our company is responsible for the detailed and execution planning of the tunnel system, the intake structures and several shafts. In addition to the underground tunnel connection, a further 20 kilometers of access tunnels are required to ensure the successful operation of the plant. Lombardi's mandate also includes on-site technical construction supervision.