17/11/2024
Biggest Pumped Hydro in the world cancelled!!
What does cancelling the $36 Billion Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro near Mackay mean for Queensland’s energy and water supplies?
It means Queensland must find other pumped hydro sites that can together generate 5,000 MW of electricity for at least 12 hours.
Why 12 hours?
Because most of Queensland’s energy storage is 2 to 4 hour batteries owned by foreign companies.
Queensland needs long duration energy storage to cope with wind droughts.
Once coal-fired power stations are gone, most of the pumped hydro sites being considered will be reliant on excess renewable energy to “recharge”. There will be times when there is no excess renewable energy as wind droughts can last for weeks and can occur at the same time as there is low solar.
But there is one Queensland pumped hydro project that can:
• Generate electricity when there is low or no wind and solar
• can be built by 2030 (helping Australia to meet its renewable energy targets) and
• will be the cheapest renewable energy in Queensland (if not Australia) as its an extension of an existing 100% Queensland Government owned hydro asset
The 1,000 MW Koombooloomba Energy and Water Project can supply both electricity and drinking water for the next 100 years from a single footprint.
That saves the Queensland and Federal Government lots of money! Allowing them to spend more money on schools, roads and hospitals and essential services like police.
Queensland NEEDS WATER TO SURVIVE AND AFFORDABLE & RELIABLE ELECTRICITY TO THRIVE
Queensland NEEDS the 1,000 MW Koombooloomba Energy & Water Project to be built by 2030.