News

SNOWY 2.0 PROJECT UPDATE – APRIL 2023

09/05/2023

In our April update of the Snowy 2.0 pumped-hydro project, Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes pays tribute to Alan Machon, who tragically died in a road accident. Alan was a member of the Future Generation team working to deliver Snowy 2.0.

Out onsite, Snowy 2.0 Integration Manager, Paul Smith, joins us from the recently completed Ravine Road, we meet the captain of the Lobs Hole Emergency Response Team and we stop by the Talbingo adit to check on progress of TBM Lady Eileen Hudson’s reassembly in readiness for her second major tunnelling task.

The construction of Ravine Road was one of the first projects undertaken for Snowy 2.0. Originally little more than a dirt track, the main access into the Lobs Hole site has been transformed to provide safe all-weather access for project trucks and light vehicles.

The steep, winding 15-kilometre road is now two lanes wide and in March 2023 it was fully sealed with line marking, snow poles and reflective markers installed to help guide road users in low visibility conditions. With an 850-metre elevation difference from top to bottom, the upper section of Ravine Road is above the snow line.

Areas disturbed during construction are being reinstated and the rehabilitation process is underway. When the Snowy 2.0 project is complete, the general public will be able to use Ravine Road to access a popular camping area once restricted to 4WD vehicles.

At the Talbingo adit, tunnel boring machine Lady Eileen Hudson is being reassembled in preparation for excavation of the tailrace tunnel. New components including the cutterhead and tailskin will soon be lifted into the TBM cradle to be attached to the shields and main drive. After completing the excavation of the main access tunnel, the TBM gantries were removed using self-propelled mobile transporters and will be attached to the machine so it can begin excavating the six-kilometre tunnel. The vertical conveyor belt stacker has been assembled, construction of the water treatment plant is progressing and the grout plant will soon be commissioned.

Snowy 2.0 emergency response teams, or ERTs, regularly conduct training to keep the onsite workforce safe and to prepare for possible emergencies such as vehicle rescues and bushfires.

Future Generation’s Lobs Hole ERT captain, Drew Butters, is a Snowy Mountains local who has worked on the project for three years. He has had a life-long association with emergency response and fire fighting in the Rural Fire Service and is currently the Adaminaby RFS captain.

ERTs are trained to deal with bushfires, general firefighting, emergency response and rescue. Emergency Response Teams have a small crew with experienced full-time members, plus a number of volunteers at each work site.

News

SNOWY 2.0 – PROJECT UPDATE

03/05/2023

Snowy Hydro’s management team is working towards resetting the delivery timeline and budget for the Snowy 2.0 project with its principal contractor, Future Generation Joint Venture (FGJV), as part of an ongoing project review.

The reset will ensure this critically important clean energy infrastructure project is placed on a robust and sustainable footing for FGJV to progress the schedule in a realistic and productive manner.

While significant progress has been achieved by FGJV on Snowy 2.0, there are delays to Snowy 2.0’s contracted schedule and likely cost impacts beyond the contingency allowed, which remain under review by Snowy Hydro.

There are four broad categories of factors contributing to schedule delays and likely cost increases:

the mobilisation and resourcing implications of the COVID-19 pandemic;
the effect of global supply chain disruption and inflation impacting the cost and availability of a skilled workforce, materials, and shipping;
a number of design elements requiring more time to complete due to their technically complex nature, with the final design now being more expensive to construct; and
the impact of variable site and geological conditions, with the most impactful being the soft ground encountered that is delaying tunnel boring machine (TBM) Florence’s progress at Tantangara.

Snowy Hydro anticipates that the timeline for full commercial operation is delayed by a further 12-24 months from the current publicly released dates:

Milestone	Earliest	Latest
First Power	June 2027 – December 2027	June 2028 – December 2028
Commercial operation of all units	December 2028	December 2029

Snowy Hydro expects more detail on the budget implications of the project reset around July 2023, and this will be clearly communicated with key project stakeholders.

Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said:

“Since joining Snowy Hydro earlier this year I have focused on ensuring our major projects are placed on a realistic and sustainable footing, while maintaining construction progress.

“This project is critically important to the transition of Australia’s electricity grid and it’s crucial that we are working to a safe, efficient and realistically achievable timeframe to enable orderly planning for all our stakeholders. I am committed to being transparent about our progress and how we are proactively managing the inevitable issues and challenges that arise in a complex project like this.

“While many other major infrastructure projects have been impacted by the same challenges, Snowy 2.0 continues to make positive progress.

“Snowy 2.0 is providing significant employment and economic benefits both regionally and domestically. There are currently over 2,400 people employed on the project and thousands more jobs generated indirectly through supply chains and support services.

“TBM Kirsten has tunnelled 2.9 km to reach the underground power station cavern complex and we now have access to this site from both ends. We shortly expect to commence the 6km tailrace tunnel that will feed into Talbingo Reservoir and the excavation of intakes at Talbingo and Tantangara are proceeding very well.”

News

SNOWY 2.0 TUNNELLING UPDATE

01/03/2023

Snowy 2.0 is a critically important, pumped-hydro expansion of the Snowy Scheme that will help underpin Australia’s transition to a renewable energy future.

Construction of Snowy 2.0 continues to make progress across multiple worksites. At Lobs Hole, tunnel boring machine (TBM) Lady Eileen Hudson has completed excavation of the 2.7km main access tunnel and TBM Kirsten is almost finished excavating the adjacent 2.9km emergency, cable and ventilation tunnel (ECVT).

At Tantangara, the project team is currently conducting works to stabilise encountered soft ground and enable TBM Florence to restart excavating the headrace tunnel.

TBM Florence has tunnelled about 150 metres and is currently located at a depth of approximately 30 metres below ground. A surface depression recently emerged in the ground above TBM Florence, which has temporarily delayed progress on this particular worksite. The depression is approximately nine (9) metres deep and continues to be monitored.

Importantly, the integrity of the tunnel, which is supported by a concrete lining and steel ribs, has not been compromised, and nor has the capacity of the TBM. The project team has paused the machine until about 10-15m of weak material in front of it is stabilised, prior to striking hard rock, when we expect normal tunnelling to resume.

Snowy 2.0 principal contractor Future Generation Joint Venture (FGJV) is drilling probe holes through the front of the excavation to understand the ground conditions immediately ahead of the TBM. Grout is injected in front of the excavation to improve any weak zones and limit any water flows. Grouting is well underway from TBM Florence, with 20 grout holes drilled to date in the current location.

FGJV is currently installing a slurry plant for the TBM that will mean the machine can switch from open excavation to a closed, pressurised mode. This will deliver stable excavation and efficient progress through the softer ground conditions, while enabling the TBM to switch back to open mode when in harder rock.

Stage two of the works to stabilise the ground in front and above the machine will involve ground improvement from the surface. Once the area is grouted, the depression will be backfilled and revegetated.

Snowy Hydro has been responsibly operating the Snowy Scheme in Kosciuszko National Park for decades and remains committed to careful and safe management of this tunnelling challenge in a sensitive environment.

The Snowy 2.0 workforce of more than 2,200 is continuing to achieve milestones across a range of work fronts as they build the huge pumped-hydro expansion of the Snowy Scheme.

At Lobs Hole, in the main access tunnel, works are continuing on multiple drill and blast cross tunnels. These will link with the ECVT, where TBM Kirsten has tunnelled 2.8km and has reached the site of the underground power station cavern complex. This is a great milestone for Snowy Hydro as we now have access to the excavation site from both ends of the cavern, which will be one of the largest and deepest in the world.

TBM Kirsten is setting a global standard in tunnel boring technology, just as the original Snowy Scheme developed rock bolting techniques that are still used throughout the world today. The machine will soon be modified to excavate the inclined pressure shaft on a steep uphill angle. Modifications include altering the levels of the TBM’s tanks and mechanical equipment so they are level when travelling up the 25-degree incline, and converting the walkways on the machine’s sides into steps and ladderways.

Meanwhile TBM Lady Eileen Hudson is being reassembled at the Talbingo adit with some new components including a cutterhead and shields. It will be launched into the mountain later this year to excavate the 6km tailrace tunnel, which will feed into Talbingo Reservoir.

Excavation of intakes at Talbingo and Tantangara is advancing steadily, along with the giant surge shaft on the Marica plateau that is already excavated to a depth of more than 20m.

Despite the ongoing challenges faced by all large infrastructure projects, Snowy 2.0 continues to achieve progress across a large number of remote work fronts.

Snowy Hydro remains fully committed to ensuring the local community and stakeholders are kept updated on this pumped-hydro mega project that will provide the National Electricity Market with 2,000 megawatts of on-demand generating capacity and a huge 175 hours of energy storage.

Caption: 3D imagery of surface depression above TBM Florence at Tantangara, created using photogrammetry technology

Caption: Snowy 2.0 project overview.

Caption: Talbingo adit, where TBM Lady Eileen Hudson is being reassembled for excavation of the tailrace tunnel.

News

SNOWY 2.0 RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT – FIND OUT MORE!

06/02/2023

Snowy 2.0, a huge pumped-hydro expansion of the mighty Snowy Scheme, is at the heart of Australia’s transition to a renewable energy future and this is your chance to find out more about the project at local information sessions.

Snowy Hydro will host the Snowy 2.0 community information sessions starting from Thursday 9 February, providing locals with opportunities to be updated, ask questions and provide feedback.

Hear from the Snowy 2.0 project team about:

Current project activities and news;
Traffic management and road safety initiatives;
Accommodation, recreation access and other local issues;
Jobs and training on Snowy 2.0.

New Snowy Hydro CEO Dennis Barnes said construction of Snowy 2.0 was providing significant economic and social benefits right across the region.

“There are 2,200 people employed on the project and hundreds of millions of dollars are being invested locally, so it continues to be a very exciting time for communities throughout the Snowy Mountains,” Mr Barnes said. “I encourage everyone to come along to one of our sessions to hear the latest about Snowy 2.0, discuss any local concerns that you may have and answer your questions.”

Hosted by Snowy Hydro, the sessions will be attended by representatives from Future Generation Joint Venture, our Snowy 2.0 contractor building Snowy 2.0.

Talbingo and Tumbarumba will be drop-in sessions, with the chance to speak one-on-one with project team members, while there will be a formal presentation followed by community Q&As in Tumut, Cooma and Adaminaby.

Community information sessions schedule:

Thursday 9 February Talbingo shops 11.00am-2.00pm
Thursday 9 February Club Tumut 6.00pm-7.30pm
Friday 10 February Near Tumbarumba IGA, The Parade 11.00am-2.00pm
Tuesday 28 February Cooma Ex-Services Club 6.00pm-7.30pm
Wednesday 1 March Adaminaby Bowling Club 6.00pm-7.30pm

News

SNOWY 2.0 HEADRACE TUNNEL UPDATE

16/12/2022

Snowy 2.0 teams are monitoring a surface depression that has emerged above the headrace tunnel at Tantangara.

The integrity of the tunnel has not been compromised, and tunnelling is continuing while work to remediate the surface depression above tunnel boring machine (TBM) Florence is carried out. There is a safety exclusion zone around the surface depression.

Ensuring the safety of the Snowy 2.0 workforce and members of the public is the priority for Snowy Hydro and principal contractor Future Generation Joint Venture.

The Snowy 2.0 teams are conducting geophysical investigations of the area and continuing grouting operations and probing from the TBM.

As previously indicated, the ground conditions encountered by the TBMs on Snowy 2.0 have been highly variable, ranging from very loose, sandy ground to extremely hard rock in fluctuating groundwater conditions.

TBM Florence is transitioning from soft material into harder rock conditions.

News

MILESTONE FIRST TUNNEL COMPLETED FOR SNOWY 2.0

11/10/2022

Snowy Hydro is celebrating the completion of excavation for its first tunnel for Snowy 2.0, with the Lady Eileen Hudson tunnel boring machine (TBM) reaching the location of the new underground power station cavern.

The 11-metre diameter TBM has excavated 2.85km to create the main access tunnel at Lobs Hole in the Snowy Mountains, where a workforce of more than 2,200 people are building Snowy 2.0 – the 2,000 megawatt pumped hydro expansion of the mighty Snowy Scheme.

Snowy Hydro acting CEO Roger Whitby said the tunnelling achievement was a significant milestone, with Snowy 2.0 set to underpin the nation’s transition to renewables.

“Snowy 2.0 will not only provide on-demand, quick-start generating capacity for the National Electricity Market (NEM), but a massive 350,000 gigawatt hours of energy storage,” Mr Whitby said.

“This is our first new major tunnel excavation in decades, since construction of the original Scheme, and it gives us access to the site where we will create the enormous cavern 800m underground that will house our power station.

“The TBM Lady Eileen Hudson and our teams from Snowy Hydro and contractor Future Generation Joint Venture have done a great job to complete this critical tunnelling task.

“However, there’s no slowing down. Work across the project continues to move ahead rapidly and this tunnel boring machine is now being dismantled so it can be moved to the Talbingo adit where it will be reassembled with some new components for excavation of the 6km tailrace tunnel.”

While dismantling of the TBM conveyor belt gets underway in the main access tunnel, drill and blast activities are ongoing to excavate cross passages and tunnels to gain access to the power station complex, which will include a 251m-long, 52m-high machine hall cavern and 223m-long, 46m-high transformer hall cavern.

The new work fronts associated with the powerhouse will create further employment opportunities on this clean energy mega-project.

The Snowy 2.0 project will link Tantangara Reservoir (top storage) with Talbingo Reservoir (bottom storage) through 27km of tunnels and a power station with pumping capabilities.

This will enable water to be released for energy generation at times of peak demand and then pumped back to the top storage when there is excess renewable energy in the system, ready to generate again.

Main access tunnel fast facts:

10 metres in diameter
Lined with 1,422 concrete rings installed by the TBM
Rings comprise 12,798 individual segments manufactured locally in Cooma
Has four cross-passages linking it to the adjacent emergency, cable and ventilation tunnel
Also has four cross tunnels and a turning bay to facilitate construction access around the power station complex
Provides pedestrian and vehicle access into the power station

News

MILESTONE FOR LOCAL SNOWY 2.0 CONCRETE SEGMENT FACTORY

09/08/2022

Snowy Hydro’s Snowy 2.0 precast factory in Cooma has achieved an impressive milestone, with manufacturing completed for all concrete segments that will line the dry access tunnels.

More than 25,000 of these seven-tonne segments have been produced at the Polo Flat factory, which employs 120 people from the 2,100-strong Snowy 2.0 workforce. The segments are being used to line the main access tunnel and emergency, cable and ventilation tunnel at Lobs Hole.

In total, 36,000 or 27% of the 130,000-plus segments needed to line all of the Snowy 2.0 tunnels have now come off the Polo Flat production line, said Paul Broad, Snowy Hydro’s Managing Director and CEO.

“We’re proud to be manufacturing and investing locally, and providing employment opportunities for local people as well,” Mr Broad said. “The precast factory is operated by our principal contractor Future Generation Joint Venture and it is powering along.

“To efficiently and safely produce enough of these massive concrete segments to line the 5.6 kilometres of dry access tunnels is a terrific achievement.”

The factory supports the operation of the three Snowy 2.0 tunnel boring machines, which are excavating 27 kilometres of tunnels from Tantangara Reservoir to Talbingo Reservoir for the Snowy 2.0 pumped-hydro expansion of the Snowy Scheme.

The Polo Flat facility includes a concrete batching plant and segment manufacturing from two automated carousels, producing up to 24 rings, each one made of nine segments, per day.

Many of the raw materials like aggregates and sand are sourced from the local Schmidt Quarries at Mt Mary and Nimmitabel, which is reducing transport time and costs. Concrete is mixed within the batching plant, which is then transferred into the factory and poured into specially-designed moulds.

With the use of innovative robotics, the moulds progress along the carousel as the segments cure and finish. There is an onsite laboratory and testing to check the quality of every segment produced.

Snowy 2.0 is leading the way in Australia to successfully deploy and use robots to automate the process of demoulding, cleaning and application of the release agent on the moulds, before pushing them through to the next production stage. This has allowed the factory to maintain a safe and low-noise working environment for workers.

It takes approximately eight to 10 hours to cure and de-mould each segment from start to finish, then they are stored for about two weeks before being transported to site, loaded into TBMs and installed in the tunnels.

FAST FACTS – DRY TUNNEL SEGMENTS

Number produced = 25,210
Distance if all these segments were placed side-by-side = 86.3 kilometres
Tonnes of concrete used = 151,260
Equivalent rings (nine segments per ring) = 2,802
These segments – designed to provide durability under extreme fire loads – have been laboratory tested for fire loads of 1,350 degrees Celsius for up to 120 minutes.

Snowy 2.0 project background: Snowy 2.0 is a nation-building project that will underpin thousands of megawatts of renewables and will continue to keep the lights on for generations to come.

Snowy 2.0 will link two existing Snowy Scheme reservoirs, Tantangara and Talbingo, and its new power station with six pump-turbines will be located about 800m underground. Water in the top storage will be released for energy generation at times of peak demand and pumped back at times when there is excess renewable energy in the grid, so Snowy 2.0 is ready to meet demand when needed.

News

ANAO REPORT: SNOWY 2.0 GOVERNANCE OF EARLY IMPLEMENTATION

17/06/2022

Snowy Hydro welcomes the ANAO’s findings that the Company’s governance of the project is effective, with no recommendations raised.

Specifically, the audit concluded that Snowy Hydro has appropriate arrangements in place to govern, monitor and report on the project; including in relation to managing the Engineering, Procurement & Construction contract with our principal contractor Future Generation JV.

From the outset, Snowy Hydro established tailored governance arrangements to oversee the development and implementation of this critical energy infrastructure project.

It is pleasing that the effectiveness of these arrangements have been independently assessed by the ANAO, with no material exceptions identified.

To read the full ANAO report please click here.

News

SNOWY HYDRO’s SNOWY 2.0 IS POWERING HEAD – FIND OUT MORE!

09/05/2022

With work on Snowy 2.0 powering ahead and three huge tunnel boring machines now in operation, now is a great time for community members to discover more about Australia’s largest committed renewable energy project at local information sessions being held throughout the Snowy Mountains.

Snowy Hydro will host the Snowy 2.0 community information sessions starting from Tuesday 10 May, providing locals with opportunities to be updated, ask questions and provide feedback.

Hear from the Snowy 2.0 project team about:

Current project activities and news;
Traffic management and road safety initiatives;
Accommodation, recreation access and other local issues;
Jobs and training on Snowy 2.0.

Snowy Hydro CEO Paul Broad said construction of the Snowy 2.0 pumped-hydro expansion of the mighty Snowy Scheme was providing significant economic and social benefits right across the region.

“There are 1,800 people employed on Snowy 2.0 and tens of millions of dollars are being invested locally, so it continues to be a very exciting time for communities throughout the Snowy Mountains,” Mr Broad said.

“I encourage everyone to come along to one of our sessions to hear the latest about Snowy 2.0 and learn more about all of the training and work opportunities with the project.

“We’re keen to hear your views about Snowy 2.0, discuss any local concerns that you may have and answer your questions.”

Run by Snowy Hydro, the sessions will be attended by representatives from Future Generation, the joint venture partnership managing Snowy 2.0 jobs, procurement and subcontracting.

There will be a formal presentation and Q&As at the sessions, plus the chance to speak one-on-one with project team members while enjoying light refreshments.

Community information sessions schedule:

Date	Town and location	Time
Tuesday 10 May Wednesday 11 May	Cooma Ex-Services Club Adaminaby Bowling Club	6-7.30pm 6-7.30pm
Tuesday 17 May Wednesday 18 May Thursday 19 May	Cafe Nest, Tumbarumba Club Tumut Talbingo Country Club	6-7.30pm 6-7.30pm 6-7.30pm

News

SNOWY 2.0 POWERING AHEAD WITH COMMISSIONING OF TUNNEL BORING MACHINE FLORENCE

22/03/2022

Snowy Hydro and members of the local community have today come together to celebrate the commissioning of the third and final tunnel boring machine (TBM) for Snowy 2.0, Australia’s largest renewable energy project.

The 143 metre-long TBM Florence is one of a trio of technologically-advanced machines excavating more than 27 kilometres of waterway tunnels as part of Snowy 2.0, the huge pumped-hydro expansion of the iconic Snowy Mountains Scheme that is ensuring Australia’s secure and reliable transition to renewables.

Snowy Hydro Managing Director and CEO Paul Broad joined Snowy Mountains community members and representatives from Snowy 2.0 principal contractor Future Generation Joint Venture for a celebration event and ribbon-cutting at Tantangara, where TBM Florence is being launched to excavate the headrace tunnel.

Mr Broad said it was a wonderful experience sharing a significant project milestone with the community, former Snowy Scheme workers and local school children and businesses.

“We want to thank the local community for their support. It’s great knowing that this massive project is delivering thousands of jobs, many training and apprenticeship opportunities for workers, and a major economic boost for the Snowy Mountains region and beyond,” Mr Broad said.

“The progress we’re making on Snowy 2.0 is terrific. The other two TBMs, Lady Eileen Hudson and Kirsten, are already powering ahead excavating the main access tunnel and emergency, cable and ventilation tunnel at Lobs Hole, so we’re delighted to be starting this very long and deep headrace tunnel from Tantangara.

“Watching TBM Florence’s big blue cutterhead spin today alongside people who helped build the original Scheme highlights the pride we at Snowy Hydro have in our pioneering past and how exciting the renewable energy future is with Snowy 2.0.”

There are almost 1,800 people currently working on Snowy 2.0, including hundreds of locals, with the project generating about 4,000 direct jobs and many more in the supply chain.

Snowy 2.0 will deliver 2,000 megawatts of pumping and generating capacity and 175 hours of storage – enough to power 500,000 homes simultaneously – which will underpin thousands of megawatts of intermittent renewables.

Named after Australia’s first female electrical engineer, Florence Violet McKenzie (1890-1982), TBM Florence is set to excavate 14.9 kilometres of the 17km headrace tunnel. The 11-metre diameter Herrenknecht-designed machine has been purposely designed to manage hazardous dust and poor ground conditions while tunnelling up to 450 metres underground.

TBM Florence was named by local Berridale student Riley Douch as part of the Snowy 2.0 Tunnel Boring Machine Naming Competition, which highlighted ground-breaking Australian women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
For more information about Snowy 2.0 visit snowyhydro.com.au

News

ONE KILOMETRE SNOWY 2.0 TUNNELLING MILESTONE

09/12/2021

Snowy 2.0, a nation-building pumped-hydro project that will provide Australia with on-demand, clean, renewable energy and large-scale storage, is celebrating its inaugural tunnelling milestone.

The project’s first tunnel boring machine (TBM), the Lady Eileen Hudson, has passed the one kilometre mark of the 2.6km main access tunnel, which leads to the site of the underground power station cavern.

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said Snowy 2.0 is going from strength to strength.

“Reaching this critical milestone brings Snowy 2.0 closer to delivering 2,000 megawatts of fast-start, dispatchable energy needed to make our grid secure and keep pressure on power prices for Australian families and businesses,” Minister Taylor said.

“Snowy 2.0 will store the excess energy from Australia’s world-leading levels of household solar and use that energy when the sun goes down, enough to power the equivalent of 500,000 homes for over a week during peak demand.

“The project is providing a major job and economic boom for the Snowy region, building on the great legacy of the Snowy Scheme, a national icon.”

Snowy Hydro Managing Director and CEO Paul Broad said the tunnelling achievement highlighted the Snowy 2.0 project’s outstanding construction progress.

“It’s an exciting time in the mountains with Snowy 2.0 – this is a megaproject that’s on-budget and due to produce first power in 2025 as planned,” Mr Broad said.

“Tunnelling at Lobs Hole is going very well, with about 4,500 concrete segments manufactured locally at our factory in Cooma used to create 500 rings to line the first kilometre of the main access tunnel. In total, around 130,500 segments will be produced for the Snowy 2.0 tunnels.

“We are also getting ready to launch our second TBM, named Kirsten, with our principal contractor, Future Generation Joint Venture.

“The progress being made by the project’s growing 1,400-strong workforce is particularly noteworthy given the very difficult scenarios we’ve faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and bushfire impacts over the last year and a half.

“It’s particularly good to see the training and upskilling opportunities Snowy 2.0 is providing, creating lots of apprenticeships and giving local people the chance to work on the TBMs.”

There are three Snowy 2.0 TBMs, which will collectively tunnel more than 27km between Tantangara and Talbingo reservoirs. A power station with pumping capabilities will be located more than 800m below ground.

Snowy 2.o’s 2,000 megawatts of pumping and generating capacity and 350,000 megawatt hours of storage will underpin thousands of megawatts of intermittent renewables.

News

SNOWY 2.0 RAMPS UP WITH COMMISSIONING OF SECOND TUNNEL BORING MACHINE

06/12/2021

Snowy Hydro has today achieved another exciting milestone, with the commissioning of the second tunnel boring machine (TBM) for Snowy 2.0, Australia’s largest renewable energy project.

The 11-metre diameter TBM Kirsten, one of the most innovative and technologically-advanced machines in the world, is one of three TBMs that will excavate more than 27km of tunnels for the massive pumped-hydro expansion of the iconic Snowy Scheme.

Snowy 2.0, which is on-budget and due to produce first power in 2025, is fundamental to Australia’s transition to a renewable energy future. Its 2,000 megawatts of pumping and generating capacity and 175 hours of storage – enough to power 500,000 homes simultaneously – will underpin thousands of megawatts of intermittent renewables.

Snowy Hydro CEO Paul Broad said Snowy 2.0 was creating 4,000 jobs and significant training and apprenticeship opportunities for workers, while providing a major economic boost for the Snowy Mountains region and beyond.

“Our first TBM, the Lady Eileen Hudson, is already a kilometre into the mountain excavating the main access tunnel and now we have TBM Kirsten continuing the tunnelling and construction progress for this amazing project,” Mr Broad said.

“Our growing workforce of almost 1,400 includes hundreds of people from the local region and we have invested more than $70 million with local businesses so far.

“Upskilling workers and investing in the future of our youth will be important legacies of this project so it is very pleasing to see Snowy 2.0 apprentices around site learning their trades and local people having the chance to work on the TBMs.”

Mr Broad, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor, and representatives from Snowy 2.0 principal contractor Future Generation Joint Venture, today toured TBM Kirsten at Lobs Hole and watched the cutterhead spin.

Named after NSW astrophysicist and popular science communicator Kirsten Banks, TBM Kirsten is set to excavate the 2.9km emergency, cable and ventilation tunnel (ECVT), which provides alternate access to the underground power station. The 205-metre-long TBM will then bore the 1.4km inclined pressure shaft (IPS) and a 2.4km section of the headrace tunnel.

TBM Kirsten is setting a global standard in tunnel boring technology, just as the original Snowy Scheme developed rock bolting techniques that are still used throughout the world today.

It has been specially designed to excavate the IPS on a very steep gradient (to +47% or a 25-degree angle) so all equipment within the TBM can switch to work on the incline, and the stairways and walkways pivot to remain horizontal.

TBM Kirsten was named earlier this year by local student Kobe Burnes as part of the Snowy 2.0 Tunnel Boring Machine Naming Competition, which highlighted leading Australian women in STEM.