The Victorian Government and City of Greater Bendigo have committed $150,000 in funding towards a feasibility study into the viability of using solar powered pumped hydro to generate and store electricity in Bendigo’s empty mineshafts.
The Victorian Government has committed $100,000 towards the study, with an additional $50,000 committed by the City of Greater Bendigo.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, said, “Solar pumped hydro has the potential to store and generate significant amounts of energy. This feasibility study is the first key step towards realising the benefits of solar pumped hydro for the Bendigo region.”
Early calculations suggest the facility could generate up to 784kWh – boosting the reliability of the local power grid, creating local jobs and supporting the growth of local businesses.
This type of energy generation is expected to provide around the clock supply and make Bendigo a net exporter of renewable energy.