EnergyAustralia outlines Lake Lyell pumped hydro design

Australian utility EnergyAustralia has unveiled the concept design for its 335MW Lake Lyell pumped hydropower project in New South Wales (NSW) state, part of its programme to replace its ageing coal-fired generation units.

EnergyAustralia plans to finalise environmental assessments by August 2024, reach a final investment decision in the second half of 2025 and commission the project by 2029. The Hong Kong-owned company had already foreshadowed changes to the Lake Lyell upper dam design in its January-June report released in August.

Falling renewables spend has been partially blamed on community pushback against some Australian generation and transmission projects, prompting firms to redouble engagement efforts. Following consultations with residents in the nearby city of Lithgow, the Lake Lyell design had been modified to minimise adverse visual impacts and assess impacts of the project, including measures to conserve populations of rare platypuses, EnergyAustralia said on 6 December.

EnergyAustralia has a pipeline of 3,000MW of new investment in mainly renewable power schemes by 2030. It plans to close its 1,400MW Mount Piper black coal-fired power station near Lithgow by 2040. A planned 500MW battery energy storage system for the site is under assessment.

The 316MW Tallawarra B gas-fired peaking plant near the NSW city of Wollongong is undergoing commissioning and is scheduled to come on line during the 2023-24 Australian summer, EnergyAustralia said, which is 100pc owned by Hong Kong-listed energy and infrastructure group CLP.

By Tom Major