Queensland abandons 5 GW pumped storage hydropower project

• 1 year, 16 days ago (2024-11-07)
• David Flin

Australasia 62 Hydropower 151

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The Government of the Australian state of Queensland has abandoned development of a 5 GW pumped storage hydropower project due to be built on the state’s central coast.

The Pioneer-Burdekin pumped storage project would have offered long-duration energy storage (LDES) of 120 GWh over a 24 hour discharge duration. The project would have been the world’s largest pumped storage hydropower plant.

The Queensland Government cited cost increases as the reason for abandoning the project. The project was originally expected to cost US$7.9 billion, but a treasury analysis estimated the cost at US$24.2 billion. The Queensland Government said it will instead build multiple, smaller pumped storage plants at locations that have yet to be determined.