The New South Wales (NSW) government in Australia has granted planning consent for Yancoal Australia’s 3.6GWh Stratford Pumped Hydro and Solar project.
The project is located at the site of the defunct Stratford Mining Complex in the Gloucester Valley, about 100km north of Newcastle.
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Gloucester Coal, a subsidiary of Yancoal Australia, will develop the A$1.8bn ($1.26bn) project. It is the first pumped hydro energy storage scheme to achieve full planning approval in NSW in six years.
The Stratford Pumped Hydro and Solar project aims to convert land previously used for coal mining, where such operations ceased in 2024, into a dual-purpose renewable energy facility.
Plans call for a 300MW pumped hydro power station with the ability to provide up to 12 hours of storage, alongside a 320MW solar power plant.
The design of the pumped hydro power component of the project involves the movement of water between a new upper reservoir and an existing dam through a tunnel, with initial reservoir water sourced from the former mine site.
The facility is intended to provide “firming” energy, storing excess electricity generated during the day for release during peak demand in the evening.
The Stratford Pumped Hydro and Solar project is expected to contribute approximately 13% of NSW’s 2034 long-duration storage target.
The construction phase of the project is expected to create as many as 350 jobs.
The NSW government designated the Stratford project as Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI) in June 2024, identifying it as a key element of the state’s 20-year Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap.
This strategy seeks to diversify energy sources and build energy security as the region transitions away from coal-fired power.
NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said: “This is the first pumped hydro project to secure final planning approval in NSW in six years.
“It’s a sign of our commitment to a clean energy future and the beginnings of an evolution of jobs and energy generation in the Hunter [region] to power homes and businesses.”
Since March 2023, the NSW government has approved 52 renewable energy projects. Additional projects are under assessment, which could potentially add 12.9GW of new generation capacity.
