Snowy Hydro today welcomed the announcement by APA Group that it had signed gas transport, storage and development agreements for the Hunter Power Project.
APA will construct, own and operate the Hunter Power Project’s gas pipeline connection to the Sydney -Newcastle pipeline, known as the Kurri Kurri Lateral, along with a 70 terajoule gas storage facility.
Snowy Hydro CEO Paul Broad said the Hunter Power Project would play a critical role in supplementing Snowy’s generation portfolio with dispatchable capacity when the needs of electricity consumers are highest.
“Along with Snowy 2.0, which is Australia’s largest committed renewable energy project, the Hunter Power Project will underpin thousands of megawatts of new wind and solar plants.
“The Hunter Power Project will be good for prices, by filling the gap in electricity demand and offsetting potential cost increases resulting from the closure of the Liddell Power Station.
“Today’s announcement is another significant milestone for the project and Snowy is looking forward to continuing to work closely with APA.
“The Hunter Power Project is on track and progressing well, with key milestones including naming CIMIC Group’s UGL as the Principal Contractor, as well as the signing of a major contract with Mitsubishi Power to deliver the hydrogen-ready open-cycle gas turbines.
“Snowy continues to take opportunities to turbo-charge local investment by the project. That’s why we’ve engaged a Hunter-based recruitment agency, engaged a local civil works contractor, established a Snowy Hydro site office at Kurri Kurri and mobilised a local workforce.”