The Glenbawn project will provide 770MW of 10-hour storage, while Glennies Creek is set to deliver 623MW of 10-hour storage. Both sites offer potential for integrated wind generation.
Markus Brokhof, AGL’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “Adding long duration storage such as pumped hydro is a focus for AGL as we continue to build out the breadth of our development pipeline to achieve our ambition of adding 12 GW of new renewables and firming by 2035.”
Brokhof added: “It is crucial the future energy system is developed with a spectrum of storage and firming, encompassing short, medium, and long-term storage technologies. Developing pumped hydro energy storage and other synchronous long duration storage is integral to ensuring reliability and affordability as Australia transitions to a renewable energy system.”
He noted: “AGL is encouraged by the NSW Government’s decision to maintain 8+ hours as the definition for long duration storage as well as its increased targets for long duration storage. Government support will be required to help bring these critical projects to market. The attractiveness of pumped hydro is the long technical lifetime of a project, which can range between 80 and 100 years.”
Malcolm Turnbull, outgoing UHH Chairman, stated: “Long duration storage will play a critical role in Australia’s future energy system, helping to keep the grid reliable by shifting renewable energy to match consumer demand. The Glenbawn and Glennies Creek projects are well placed to create jobs and drive investment in the Hunter which plays a pivotal role in the energy transition.”
