Genex Power (ASX:GNX) continues to undertake construction activities on the Kidston pumped storage hydro project (K2-Hydro) in Queensland, Australia.
K2-Hydro is a 250MW pumped storage power plant under construction and is poised to be Australia’s first pumped hydro storage project in more than 40 years. It will be the country’s third-largest electricity storage facility following its commissioning.
Further to the December 2022 construction activities on the Main Access Tunnel (MAT) underground excavation works, construction has continued using conventional drill and blast operations via multiple headings on Construction Adit 1 (CA-01), the realigned MAT and the ventilation shaft gallery.
late last week another significant milestone has been achieved with the completion of CA-01 and the commencement of excavation of the underground powerhouse cavern
Genex reports that late last week another significant milestone has been achieved with the completion of CA-01 and the commencement of excavation of the underground powerhouse cavern.
The powerhouse cavern comprises a 20m span, length of 85m and maximum depth of 45m, which, will house the 2 x 125MW Reversible Francis Turbines and associated electromechanical equipment.
Excavation of the powerhouse cavern is expected to take 9 months, followed by civil, mechanical, and electrical fit out works. While the excavation of the powerhouse cavern is undertaken, tunnelling works will continue on the realigned MAT, new Construction Adit 5 and the ventilation shaft gallery.
The ventilation shaft gallery is of particular importance for the raise bore activities for the first of 4 ~200m vertical shafts, being the ventilation shaft, which are expected to commence over coming weeks.
Genex Power has a portfolio of more than $1 billion of renewable energy generation and storage projects across Australia. The company’s flagship Kidston Clean Energy Hub, located in north Queensland, will integrate large-scale solar generation with pumped storage hydro.
The Kidston Clean Energy Hub is comprised of the operating 50MW stage 1 Solar Project (KS1) and the 250MW Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project (K2-Hydro) with potential for further multi-stage wind and solar projects. The 50MW Jemalong Solar Project (JSP) is located in NSW and provides geographical diversification to Genex’s portfolio.
