AGL acquires 1.3 GW Upper Hunter pumped hydro projects

These can also be integrated with wind power.

AGL has fully acquired two pumped hydro energy storage projects held by Upper Hunter Hydro Top Trust and its trustee.

In a statement, AGL said the two early-stage projects are located in the Hunter region, New South Wales. These are expected to provide 770 megawatt (MW) 10-hour and 623 MW 10-hour pumped hydro energy storage capacity, respectively.

Pumped hydro works by pumping water from a lower reservoir into an upper reservoir where it can be stored and then run downhill through turbines to generate electricity. The stored water is potential energy that can be used when the grid needs it, including during peak demand periods.

“Adding long duration storage such as pumped hydro is a focus for AGL as we continue to build out the breadth of our development pipeline to achieve our ambition of adding 12 GW of new renewables and firming by 2035,” said AGL Chief Operating Officer Markus Brokhof.

AGL said that the projects have the potential to be integrated with wind farms in the future.