To support the state’s renewable energy transition, WaterNSW is working to identify more sites at its dams with potential for privately developed long-duration pumped hydro energy storage projects.
WaterNSW Executive Manager Operations, Ronan Magaharan, said that as one of the largest landholders in the state, WaterNSW has an opportunity to not only assist the transition to a renewable energy power grid, but to also assist in the creation of jobs, support local communities, and generate revenue to put downward pressure on water costs for customers.
“We are continuing to assess our land portfolio to identify sites for further opportunities for long duration energy storage projects, and expect to go to market for expressions of interest following this process,” Mr Magaharan said.
Pre-feasibility studies have begun to identify which of WaterNSW’s 41 dams across the state are best suited for further investigation by potential developers.
The new opportunities will build on the success of WaterNSW’s Renewable Energy and Storage Program (RESP), which involved a competitive tender process to provide successful proponents with access to agreed WaterNSW land to complete studies and support the planning assessment of their projects.
The WaterNSW RESP sites currently being investigated by private developers are at Glennies Creek and Glenbawn dams in the Hunter Valley, Burrendong Dam in the Central West, and Lake Burragorang in Western Sydney.
One of those projects – ACEN Australia’s Phoenix Pumped Hydro at Burrendong Dam – has since won a New South Wales Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap tender to become part of the state’s power grid in the future.
WaterNSW’s renewable energy and storage initiatives support for the New South Wales Government’s renewable energy objectives as outlined in the New South Wales Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020.
Any projects that are developed will be owned and funded by the private sector, not WaterNSW or the New South Wales Government. All land would continue to be owned by WaterNSW, and any development would not affect water entitlements to customers or water security for communities and the environment.
