Hydro To Deliver More Power To The People
08 July 2019
Thousands more households are a step closer to
accessing clean and reliable
electricity after the
NSW Government
approved the first stage of the $300 million
Shoalhaven Hydro Expansion
project.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes today announced
geological works for the major upgrade have been given the go ahead.
“This transformative project on the South Coast has the potential to
significantly boost energy security in
NSW, while also delivering
renewable power to consumers across the State,” Mr Stokes said.
“The upgrade would see an additional 235 MW of
clean energy generated,
bringing the site’s total output to 475 MW, or enough energy to power
160,000 homes.”
The expansion of Shoalhaven Hydro was declared a Critical State
Significant Infrastructure project late last year.
Energy and
Environment Minister Matt Kean said the project would help the NSW
Government achieve its target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
“The Shoalhaven Hydro Expansion project would go a long way in helping
NSW transition to a clean energy future,” Mr Kean said.
“Pumped hydro stations act like a battery. They provide firm energy when
intermittent sources of power like solar and wind are offline.”
The applicant,
Origin Energy, will now need to submit an
Environmental
Impact Statement to the NSW Government before the main upgrade works,
involving the construction of a hydroelectric pump and power station,
can begin.
--ENDS--
Source: NSW Government - www.planning.nsw.gov.au
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