ABSTRACT
The Snowy 2.0 project involves the delivery of a 2000 megawatt pumped storage scheme in south-eastern Australia. The project aims to provide increased storage capacity and security for the national electricity network. The proposed scheme will augment the existing 4100 megawatt Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme, which is the largest in Australia. The Snowy 2.0 project plans to link the existing Tantangara and Talbingo reservoirs via 28.5 km of waterway tunnels, 2 km of shafts and 16 km of access tunnels. The project will harness the 700 m head difference between the reservoirs within an underground power station housing six 340 megawatt pump-turbines. The project faces several engineering challenges including complex alpine geological and hydrogeological conditions, a remote and environmentally sensitive setting and stringent operational requirements. This paper provides an overview of the project and discusses the main engineering challenges faced during the development of the feasibility study and reference design.
