WaterNSW is working to identify more sites at its dams with the potential for privately developed, long-duration pumped hydro energy storage projects to support the State’s renewable energy transition.
“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,” WaterNSW Executive Manager Operations, Ronan Magaharan, said.
“We are continuing to assess our land portfolio to identify sites for further opportunities for long-duration energy storage projects, and we expect to go to market for expressions of interest following this process.”
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.
Private developers are investigating the WaterNSW RESP sites 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 an NSW 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 NSW Government’s renewable energy objectives as outlined in the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020.
Any projects developed will be owned and funded by the private sector, not WaterNSW or the NSW Government. All land would continue to be owned by WaterNSW, and any development would not affect customers’ water entitlements or water security for communities and the environment.
