The $1.8 billion Stratford Pumped Hydro project has been given the green light to transform a former mining site into a renewable energy generator in the Gloucester Valley.
Located approximately 100km north of Newcastle, the project will sit on the Stratford Mining Complex site where coal mining operations ended in 2024, providing a productive and innovative future for the post-mining land.
The project by Gloucester Coal Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Yancoal Australia Limited, includes a 300MW pumped hydro power station with 12 hours of energy storage and a 320MW solar farm.
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To generate electricity, water will be transferred between a new upper reservoir and an existing dam via a tunnel, with water for the initial reservoir to be sourced from the existing mine site.
It will provide “firming” energy by storing surplus electricity generated during the day during and releasing it to generate electricity at peak times in the evening. It is forecast to deliver around 13% of New South Wales’ 2034 long-duration storage target.
Declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI) in June 2024, the project is a crucial component of the NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, a 20-year plan to diversify the energy generation mix, and provide energy security as NSW moves away from coal-fired power.
NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said, “This is the first pumped hydro project to secure final planning approval in NSW in six years.
“It’s a sign of our commitment to a clean energy future and the beginnings of an evolution of jobs and energy generation in the Hunter to power homes and businesses.
“Projects like Stratford Pumped Hydro also show how we can make the most of former mining sites and create new jobs and industry which will help to drive the region’s economic growth for decades to come.”
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said, “This is exactly what planning for the future looks like. We are taking a former mine site and giving it a new purpose powering up to 120,000 homes across New South Wales.
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“This is a major vote of confidence in our region. We have the land, infrastructure, and skilled workforce needed to deliver the next generation of major energy projects.”
While it has secured planning approval, the Stratford Pumped Hydro project is subject to a final investment decision by Yancoal.
