Pumped Hydro

Wind

Wind farm dumped from Australia’s first pumped hydro project in 40 years – due to rocky terrain
Plans to add more solar and a wind farm to delayed pumped hydro project abandoned, this time due to rocky terrain. However, a bigger battery will be included.
Rachel Williamson

Aug 17, 2026

4
Policy & Planning

“I haven’t received it:” 9-month cost review of over-budget and delayed Snowy 2.0 project runs over time
Bowen says he has yet to see new Snowy 2.0 costings, as nine-month re-assessment runs over time, and maybe even over budget.
Giles Parkinson

Aug 3, 2026

12
Storage

Coal giant gets nod to convert retired mine into solar and pumped hydro powerhouse with 12 hours storage
State approves plans of Australia’s largest listed coal miner to transform a retired mine site into a renewable energy hub capable of dispatching 300 MW of energy over a 12-hour period.
Sophie Vorrath

Jul 15, 2026

5
Storage

Auditor-general slams management of Snowy 2.0 as more delays loom and project costs blow out
Attorney-general report highlights board and management failings in the blown out Snowy 2.0 project, and points to yet more delays.
Giles Parkinson

Jun 19, 2026

8
Storage

Snowy preps market for very big blowout in Snowy 2.0 costs, with response to a question no one is asking
Snowy has commissioned a report saying how important its Snowy 2.0 project is for the grid. Actually, we just want to know the size of the bill.
Giles Parkinson

Jun 4, 2026

67
Policy & Planning

Labor slams Coalition’s “back of envelope” Snowy 2.0 estimates as wait continues for latest cost blowout
Federal Labor hits back at LNP criticism of Snowy 2.0 cost blowouts with a reminder that it was a Coalition government that signed off on the project based on “back of an envelope” calculations.
Sophie Vorrath

May 27, 2026

8
State launches its biggest ever renewable tender “to keep lights on” and push down prices
NSW formally launches its largest ever renewables tender, as well as long duration storage as it that it says is essential to replace coal, “keep the lights on”
Giles Parkinson

May 19, 2026

3
Renewables

Coal state’s biggest renewable tender to focus on power delivered when the sun don’t shine
Biggest generation tender will favour technologies that can deliver power when the sun don’t shine – solar-battery hybrids and wind energy, as more storage also sought.
Giles Parkinson

May 15, 2026

8
Renewables

Start date for Australia’s first pumped hydro project in 40 years delayed again, wind farm may be dumped
The start date for the first pumped hydro project in four decades pushed out to 2027, as developer also says it is rethinking its already shrunken wind component.
Rachel Williamson

May 13, 2026

5
Commentary

Claims of huge new blow-outs to the Snowy 2.0 bill are just plain wrong
The latest, much-inflated price estimates Snowy 2.0 critics have come up with for the pumped hydro project are absurd. Here are some counterpoints to balance the ledger.
Andrew Blakers

May 1, 2026

41
Pumped Hydro

Too big to fail? Snowy 2.0 critics predict fresh cost blowouts, while others say it’s far too late to turn back
Critics fear interest, the cost of building connecting transmission, and other fees are creating a even bigger monster than Snowy Hydro to ready to admit.
Rachel Williamson

Apr 27, 2026

15
Storage

Fresh progress for eight-hour pumped hydro project proposed to help replace ageing coal plant
The pumped hydro energy storage plans proposed to help replace a nearly coal-fired generation plant have taken an important step forward.
Joshua S Hill

Apr 9, 2026

3