The North Queensland Kidston Pumped Hydro Project has reached two key milestones, with completion scheduled for early 2025.
The EPBC (Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation AKidstrct 1999) has approved the Genex Kidston Connection Project. The first delivery of parts for the pumped hydro station has landed at the Port of Townsville.
Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said to reach the State’s renewable energy ambitions, Queensland will require a portfolio of energy projects built by both the public and private sectors.
“Our Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan is all about a future of cheaper, cleaner and secure energy for Queenslanders, powering good jobs in new regional industries. It will build the Queensland SuperGrid, Australia’s largest, transporting renewable energy from the regions, powering industry and households,” Minister de Brenni stated.
Minister de Brenni added that pumped hydro projects would be the foundation of Queensland’s dependable power, storing cheap renewable energy and pumping it out when needed.
According to Resources Minister and Member for Townsville Scott Stewart, it was fantastic to see the first shipment for the Kidston project in North Queensland.
“This is an exciting project for the region because pumped hydro is an important part of our Energy and Jobs plan moving forward. This project is already creating good jobs in Townsville and North Queensland,” Minister Stewart said.
Minister Stewart added that the Kidston project shows creative thinking by converting an abandoned mine site into an energy hub.
Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper claimed that the area was ideally situated to serve the rapidly expanding renewable energy sector.
“It’s great to see this arriving at our publicly owned Port of Townsville which is so important in supporting projects like this. With our fantastic weather and wide open spaces, embracing these opportunities will be key to our future,” Harper said.
Meanwhile, Member for Mundingburra Les Walker stated North Queensland and Townsville were already powerhouses for renewable energy.
“This project is supporting hundreds of good jobs and there are potentially thousands more as we grew the renewable industry in the north. There are huge opportunities for the city through Queensland’s Energy and Jobs Plan through renewable energy as well as developing a hydrogen industry,” Walker added.
Having the components arrive in Townsville, according to Genex Power CEO James Harding, was a significant accomplishment for the project.
“These parts will now be transported to site where they will be stored until the underground powerhouse excavation is complete and the equipment installation commences. The Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project is the Genex’s flagship project, and the first of its kind to be developed in Australia in more than 40 years,” Harding said.
ANDRITZ is supplying the electro-mechanical equipment for the groundbreaking new project’s pumped storage hydro components.
Stay rings, spiral case pieces, draught tube liner sections, draught tube cones, and draught tube gate frames are among the parts being carried into the port for embedment into the powerhouse’s concrete structure. The present transport consists of 35 trucks on their way to the Kidston site.
The production of turbine and generator parts has already started, and the equipment is expected to arrive in Q2 2023, according to ANDRITZ Hydro’s Stefan Cambridge.
