The New South Wales government has approved the Stratford pumped hydro and solar project in the Upper Hunter region, marking the first pumped hydro project approved in the state since Snowy 2.0. The $1.8 billion initiative will be built on the site of a former coal mining operation in the Gloucester Valley that ceased operations in 2024.

Gloucester Coal, a subsidiary of Yancoal, has proposed a 300-megawatt pumped hydro station with 12 hours of energy storage capacity, alongside a 320-megawatt solar farm. Planning documents indicate that surplus energy generated during the day will be stored and released during peak electricity demand at night, with solar panels powering water pumps to create energy storage in an upper reservoir.

New South Wales Planning Minister Paul Scully highlighted the project's potential, stating it could power up to 120,000 homes and is forecast to deliver around 13% of the state's 2034 long-duration storage target. The project will now proceed with assessments of its commercial viability, with Yancoal considering ownership, funding, and operating models subject to board approval.

Australian National University hydro engineering professor Andrew Blakers emphasized the importance of pumped hydro projects like Stratford in Australia's energy mix, noting the need for a combination of large systems such as Snowy 2.0 and smaller systems in the 3-to-30 gigawatt-hour range.

Yancoal is also advancing mine closure activities at Stratford and Duralie in accordance with government regulations and community expectations.

Sources

ABC Australia News