The plant in North Queensland will not only be Australia’s first pumped storage plant in more than 40 years, but also one of the world’s first to be co-located with a solar plant. The owner and developer of Kidston is Genex Power. Commissioning of the plant is expected in 2024.
The pumped storage plant was developed in a unique location by utilizing two open pits from an abandoned gold mine. Once filled up with water, it will operate as a closed-loop system and generate, store and dispatch renewable energy on demand during peak periods, capable of supplying enough sustainable and clean electrical energy for more than 280,000 Australian households. Additionally, the plant can be operated in a synchronous condenser mode to provide grid services such as reactive power management and synchronous inertia.
The ANDRITZ scope of supply comprises design, manufacturing, supply, transportation, erection, and commissioning of two 125-MW reversible pump turbine units as well as full operation and maintenance services for more than 10 years.
