Borumba pumped hydro moves to next development stage

Queensland clean energy project, the $14.2b Borumba Pumped Hydro Energy Storage, has hit a milestone with the project declared a coordinated project by the Coordinator-General.

Declaration means a rigorous assessment of social, economic and environmental matters can begin on the project being developed by Queensland Hydro.

Borumba involves building a new upper reservoir, as well as a new dam wall that will replace the existing Borumba Dam wall and increase Lake Borumba’s storage capacity from 46 to 224 gigalitres.

The completed project would have the capacity to generate up to 2,000 megawatts of electricity for up to 24 hours at a time.

The Queensland Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said that state procurement policy which means we’re looking for Sunshine Coast companies and tradies to be part of this big build.

“Pumped hydro is proven technology, ready to go now, and has been supercharged by a $19 billion investment in our Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, creating around 2000 local jobs and securing our renewable energy future.

“Because Queenslanders kept their energy network in public hands, they have the power like nowhere else in the nation to benefit from the clean energy transition.”

The community will have opportunities to comment on what should be included in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as well as Queensland Hydro’s assessment of the project and proposed mitigations to avoid and minimise impacts.

Geotechnical exploratory drilling has started on the project, in the Southern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone, which will help inform the EIS process.

Picture: Queensland Hydro