Pumper Hydro green, clean and $$$$

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Read full article summarised below: https://www.afr.com/companies/energy...0230803-p5dtjb

• Pumped hydro is a clean and green way to store energy, but it is also hard and expensive to build.
  
• Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull championed pumped hydro as a "game-changer" for the grid, but there have been few new projects since his announcement in 2017.
  
• The Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro project is expected to come online next year and will provide up to 8 hours of continuous energy for the grid.
  
• Pumped hydro can be powered by renewable energy, such as wind and solar, to make it even cleaner and greener.
  

Here are some additional details from the article:

• Pumped hydro works by using gravity to store energy. Water is pumped from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir when there is excess energy in the grid. When there is a demand for energy, the water is released back to the lower reservoir, generating electricity.
  
• The cost of building a pumped hydro project can be high, but the cost of electricity from pumped hydro is relatively low.
  
• Pumped hydro is not without its environmental challenges. The construction of dams can impact the environment, and the release of water from the upper reservoir can disrupt ecosystems.
  
• Overall, pumped hydro is a promising technology for storing renewable energy, but it is important to weigh the environmental and financial costs before building new projects.

[Sparty]

https://www.afr.com/companies/energy...0230802-p5dtcd

Summary of the article:

Genex Power's Kidston pumped hydro project is being drilled 220 metres under an old gold mine in Queensland, Australia.

The project is expected to cost $777 million and will be able to store up to 2,000 gigawatt hours of energy.

This is equivalent to eight hours of firmed renewable power, which is seen as the "holy grail" of Australia's energy transition to net zero by 2050.

The project is expected to be completed in 2025.

The article also discusses the challenges of building pumped hydro projects, such as the high cost and environmental impact. However, the author argues that pumped hydro is a vital technology for storing renewable energy and helping Australia achieve its net zero emissions target.

Here are some additional details from the article:

The Kidston project will use two reversible 125 MW turbines to generate electricity when water is released from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir.

The project will also include a 130 km transmission line to connect it to the National Electricity Market.

Genex Power is also developing a smaller pumped hydro project at Mount Stuart in Queensland.
Overall, the Kidston pumped hydro project is a significant investment in Australia's energy future. It is a large-scale project that will help to store renewable energy and provide reliable power to the grid. The project is expected to be completed in 2025, and it is a key part of Australia's plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.