Stanwell has announced it will purchase Cressbrook Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES) Project from pumped hydro developer BEPower, through a joint venture with an unnamed global pumped hydro operator.
The proposed project at Lake Cressbrook, 45km northeast of Toowoomba, is in its early stages of development. The joint venture will progress the project to a final investment decision.
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As part of the joint venture arrangements, Stanwell will dispatch the energy generated by Cressbrook PHES.
Cressbrook PHES is anticipated to commence operations in mid-2033 and would meet approximately 25% of Stanwell’s future energy storage requirements.
Stanwell CEO Michael O’Rourke said, “The development of medium duration energy storage, like pumped hydro, is crucial to enable the continued build out of renewable energy generation. Cressbrook PHES also supports the ongoing development of our Tarong Clean Energy Hub.”
The project will use Lake Cressbrook as the lower reservoir with a new upper reservoir constructed on land, that will be owned by Stanwell and its project partner, 2.1km northeast of the lake.
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During periods of high electricity demand or to firm the grid, up to 6.4GL of water would be released from the upper reservoir downstream into Lake Cressbrook, driving two 200MW turbines for a period of up to 10 hours.
Once this cycle is complete, the upper reservoir will be replenished with water pumped from Lake Cressbrook in readiness for the next release.
