Kidston hydro construction push ramps up

Workers have started building Wises Dam in a key construction milestone for Genex Power's $777 million Kidston pumped hydro energy project. Genex and its partners are converting the former Kidston gold mine in North Queensland into a clean energy hub which will combine wind, solar and pumped hydro storage. Genex Power chief executive officer James Harding said the company’s flagship project was first of its kind to be developed in Australia in more than 40 years. Genex Power chief executive officer James Harding with Minister Mick de Brenni on site. “This is essentially a giant water battery which will provide 250MW of electricity generation for up to eight hours, sufficient to satisfy Townsville’s peak power demand," he said. “We are now one year into the project delivery phase, and with site establishment complete and construction activities in full swing we are on track to commence generation before the end of 2024. “Commencement of Wises Dam construction this month marks a significant milestone for the project as this is the largest piece of surface construction work. “Once completed, these works will comprise the upper reservoir for the pumped hydro system, delivering 4.5 gigalitres of water to the turbines and I would like to acknowledge the Queensland Government for their long-standing commitment and significant funding support for the project.” Key tasks already ticked off in the construction effort to date include drilling of the Main Access Tunnel (MAT) reaching about 15 per cent of the length complete at the end of March, completion of trial works for the Wises Dam embankment and completion of the 22kV distribution line for construction power supply with the line fully energised. Speaking from the construction site today, Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said project was delivering jobs ahead of power with 120 workers on site, a further 100 workers mobilising before June, reaching a peak of 430 persons on site by the middle of 2023. Drilling of the Main Access Tunnel (MAT) is well underway. “Wises Dam, the project’s upper reservoir, will be able to deliver up to 4.5 gigalitres of water to spin the project’s 2 x 125 MW turbines for up to eight hours,” Mr de Brenni said. “More clean, renewable energy means lower emissions as well as cheaper power for Queensland households, businesses and industry. The Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project and its associated transmission infrastructure is expected to be completed and feeding into the National Electricity Market by early 2025. A solar farm is already operating at the site and Genex and joint venture partner J-Power are continuing to advance the feasibility works for the Kidston Stage 3 wind project. This includes modelling the wind resource at a number of sites following installation of a 150m met mast.

Kidston hydro construction push ramps up

Industry Queensland

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