15 May 2018 The EOI process is investigating the opportunity for WaterNSW’s assets, such as 42 dams across the state, to offer private developers the key ingredient required to develop new energy investments, such as pumped hydro, hydro generation, floating solar and other technologies.” I wasn’t able to make the briefing. The great advantage of the existing infrastructure is that there are likely to be far less issues around environmental approvals and water licenses. In addition brownfields developments can be far cheaper than greenfields developments. Origin’s Shoalhaven expansion half the cost of Snowy 2.0 in terms of power, more expensive for energy The same was true of Origin Energy’s announcement of its co sponsored ARENA study for a doubling of power at its existing Shoalhaven pumped hydro scheme. This plan would see Origin spend $240 million for a 235MW increase in output. This is, of course, only half of the cost of building Snowy 2.0 – which on current estimates is around $4 billion for 2000MW increase in power. That is, $2 million a MW. Origin’s water licence won’t change so it will only be able to produce for 14 hours whereas Snowy could produce for a couple of weeks. So Origin’s plant is far cheaper on a power basis, but more expensive in terms of energy.
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