Snowy Hydro Archives - Renew Economy

Policy & Planning

Snowy puts its hands out for government money, but hasn’t released business case to justify cost blowout
In previous resets, the government of the day and Snowy Hydro have touted the net present value of Snowy 2.0 – but not this time.
Peter Hannam

Oct 27, 2026

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Commentary

“Reset 3.0” doesn’t answer the biggest questions about Snowy’s $25 billion-plus pumped hydro gamble
Engineering marvel or financial folly? We’ve been here before – a cost blowout and a delay to Snowy 2.0 – but is there a point of no return for this giant project?
Peter Hannam

Oct 23, 2026

14
Storage

Snowy starts laying concrete foundations for massive turbines a kilometre underground
Construction of the “hydroelectric station the size of the Sydney Opera House” has started laying concrete foundations nearly 1 km underground, Snowy Hydro says.
Sophie Vorrath

Sep 26, 2026

8
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

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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
CleanTech Bites

Snowy’s delayed gas plant finally enters grid system, as Forrest closes in on gas import terminal
Snowy Hydro’s delayed, costly and not very hydrogen gas generators have finally entered the grid management system.
Giles Parkinson

Mar 25, 2025

9
Pumped Hydro

Another delay: Work stopped at all Snowy 2.0 tunnels over safety worries
Major pumped hydro project Snowy 2.0 is delayed again, this time due to worker safety concerns.
Rachel Williamson

Jan 29, 2025

6
Policy & Planning

Snowy seeks approval to burn six times more diesel than planned at Kurri Kurri gas generator
Snowy Hydro is seeking approval to run the Hunter Power Project entirely on diesel fuel in 2025, in a move that will send the hybrid gas plant’s year-one emissions soaring by up to 80%.
Sophie Vorrath

Sep 17, 2024

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Policy & Planning

Snowy confirms controversial and costly NSW gas plant will start operations fuelled by diesel
Snowy Hydro confirms that its new “fast-start, on demand” Hunter Power Plant will begin operations, not on hydrogen, not on gas, but on costly and polluting diesel fuel.
Sophie Vorrath

Aug 28, 2024

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Pumped Hydro

Snowy buys extra boring machine to support “disappointing” Florence as testing unearths more problems
A new boring machine will be operational by the end of 2025 and supplied by the same company that made the “disappointing” and frequently stuck Florence.
Rachel Williamson

Aug 26, 2024

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Storage

Slow progress at Snowy 2.0, with more “challenging” conditions ahead and a Florence clone
Snowy Hydro CEO says boring machine Florence needs to tunnel about 15 metres a day to keep Snowy 2.0 on track and says a fourth boring machine could be on the cards if the going gets tough again.
Sophie Vorrath

Feb 13, 2024

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Another dud Snowy Hydro project, squandering over $1.5bn of taxpayers’ money
Snowy Hydro’s Hunter Power Project has kept a low profile compared to Snowy 2.0 – but it has a strikingly similar list of troubles sending it over budget and off schedule.
Ted Woodley

Dec 6, 2023

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