Pumped Hydro

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
Storage

Snowy 2.0 budget to be exhausted in coming months, ratings agency says, as gas plant hit by new delays
Ratings agency warns of downgrades for Snowy Hydro, saying budget for Snowy 2.0 soon to be exhausted, and with more delays and cost overruns for Hunter gas.
Giles Parkinson

Mar 26, 2026

9
Commentary

Pumped hydro is vital to the future grid. So why does gas exploration get all the tax benefits?
When gas companies drill a dry hole, the tax system shares the loss; when pumped hydro companies drill a dry hole, they carry the cost alone.
Rick McElhinney

Feb 8, 2026

17
We need more hydro, Turnbull says: But would many smaller projects have been better than Snowy 2.0?
Malcolm Turnbull says more “simpler” pumped hydro needed as solar outpaces wind, and insists that Snowy 2.0 will deliver value despite delays and cost blowouts.
Giles Parkinson

Feb 6, 2026

14