Pumped hydro project offers a renewable future for Mayo

Posted April 16, 2019

Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie has welcomed the ASX announcement that a Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES) scheme will be developed at the now closed copper mine at Kanmantoo.

Photograph: Rebekha receives a briefing about the PHES project from Dean Smith, AGL's Manager of Power Development.

Hillgrove Resources today announced that it had entered into an agreement to sell the right to develop, own and operate the PHES project to AGL Energy Limited for $31 million.

If the multi-million dollar proposal progresses beyond the five-year development and building stage, the PHES could drive a 250MW facility capable of powering 100,000 homes from 2024.

“This forward-thinking project is exactly the renewable energy future our community Mayo can lean in to," Rebekha said.

"It underlines the real potential for our community to combat climate change whilst also meeting our energy needs and providing the jobs of the future.

"This is an exciting opportunity for Mayo to create dispatchable renewable energy and offers new life for this site post the Hillgrove copper mine.

"It is also welcome that AGL believes there is the future potential to employ some of the former employees of the mine, recognising their local knowledge and expertise."

Photograph: An image of the existing mine pit at Kanmantoo which will be used as part of the PHES project.