Project Updates Week ending 26 March 2021 Commissioning of first Snowy 2.0 tunnel boring machine 19 March Snowy Hydro today celebrated a major milestone, with commissioning underway for “We’ve already got 1,000 people working on the first tunnel boring machine (TBM) for the Snowy 2,0, including locals from the Snowy Snowy 2.0 project. Mountains and surrounding areas. The ‘Lady Eileen Hudson’ TBM will soon “Overall this project is delivering 4,000 direct commence tunnelling for Australia’s largest jobs and thousands more in the supply chain. renewable energy project, the 2,000 megawatt pumped-hydro expansion of the “There are huge economic multiplier effects mighty Snowy Scheme. from our Snowy 2.0 investment, with almost a billion dollars already spent in Australia and Named after an important Snowy Scheme more than $55m with 150 Snowy Mountains ambassador and the wife of inaugural Scheme businesses. Commissioner Sir William Hudson, the Lady Eileen Hudson TBM is set to excavate the “Snowy 2.0 is critical for the energy market 2.6km main access tunnel and provide access and consumers, and will provide on-demand to the site of the underground power station energy and large-scale storage to underpin cavern. Australia’s transition to renewables.” Snowy Hydro CEO Paul Broad joined Energy The Lady Eileen Hudson TBM will excavate and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus two tunnels. Firstly the main access tunnel, Taylor and representatives from principal and then it will be relaunched underground to contractor Future Generation Joint Venture at excavate the tailrace tunnel to the Talbingo the Lobs Hole construction site to inspect the Reservoir intake – for a total of 7.9km. TBM. Snowy 2.0 project background: Snowy 2.0 will Mr Broad said Snowy 2.0 construction had link two existing Snowy Scheme reservoirs, been progressing at a rapid rate. Tantangara and Talbingo, with 27km of waterway tunnels and a power station with “The commissioning of the Lady Eileen six pump-turbines located about 800m Hudson TBM is an important milestone for the underground. Water in the top storage will be project and it’s great to see the cutterhead released for energy generation at times of rotate. Tunnelling operations will soon be peak demand and pumped back at times underway around-the-clock at Lobs Hole, when there is excess energy in the grid, so building about 40km of tunnels needed for Snowy 2.0 is ready to meet demand when the project,” Mr Broad said. needed. Source: SnowyHydro Page 1 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) Vast Solar and Stanwell deliver cheaper energy than alternate baseload generation options over the lifetime partner to power Mount Isa of the project, benefitting the local economy and the North West Minerals and major resources projects. Province “We’re ensuring the project is developed in 22 March conjunction with local contractors and Vast Solar today announced it has signed a government wherever possible,” Craig joint development agreement (JDA) with continued. Stanwell Corporation. The JDA includes funding for a $10m feasibility study for Vast Richard Van Breda, CEO of Stanwell, Solar’s ground-breaking North West commented: “Stanwell is excited to see Queensland Hybrid Power Project (NWQHPP), another renewable energy project take a real a $600m dispatchable renewable energy step towards realisation. Projects such as project located in Mount Isa that will power these are integral to the development and the local economy and resources sector with diversification of our energy portfolio around low cost, reliable, clean energy. the state. Our involvement in the feasibility study reflects our ongoing commitment to the Vast Solar has had teams working on the people of Mount Isa and Queensland, and to ground with local contractors since July 2020, the environment. executing testing to ensure the viability of the project prior to this more detailed feasibility “This project illustrates our values by study. Initial findings are positive, with reports delivering a better Queensland through confirming ideal conditions for Vast Solar’s transitioning to a lower carbon future while world-leading concentrated solar thermal still contributing to the economy, creating power technology. jobs and delivering low-cost energy to homes and businesses.” The joint feasibility study is expected to be completed late this year, with approvals early Concentrated solar thermal technology is in 2022 followed by a two-year construction identified in the Federal Government’s phase. Importantly, electricity consumers will recently released Australian Technology start to benefit from low cost, reliable, clean Investment Roadmap as a critical part of the energy from 2023 due to a staggered country’s future dispatchable clean energy construction program that brings some mix. Vast Solar’s Australian-made technology elements of the hybrid into production earlier has been successfully deployed at its Pilot than the total plant. Project in regional NSW, which has been grid- connected since 2018. Craig Wood, CEO of Vast Solar said: “This is a major step forward for the project and the Vast Solar has been advised during the North West Minerals Province. Our development phase by Energy Estate, the partnership with Stanwell is underpinned by advisory and accelerator firm. the attractiveness of the project and we are pleased they can see the benefits it will bring Source: Vast Solar to their customers, the local economy and the wider energy market. The development of the 50MW power plant in Mount Isa will bring hundreds of construction jobs to the area during the two- year build, and dozens of permanent skilled jobs over the 30-year operational life of the plant. The $600m upfront investment will Page 2 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) NEW PROJECT The paper is available on our website at Narromine West Solar Farm energy.nsw.gov.au/renewable-energy- zones/central-west-orana-rez-access-scheme- Location: Narromine, NSW consultation/ Capacity: 5 MW Developer: Providence Asset Group The scheme is a fundamental pillar of Status: Development application lodged with Roadmap delivery and will be the first of its council kind in the National Electricity Market. LGA: Narromine Shire Council Description: The Narromine West Solar Farm It will allocate special rights for generators project proposal includes a no larger than 5 and storage projects to connect to the REZ MW grid-connected solar PV installation to be network. It will be a key part of the NSW connected to Essential Energy's network via a Government’s work to coordinate and 22 kV distribution line running adjacent to the encourage investment in Renewable Energy southern boundary of the site. The proposed Zones (REZ) and the NSW Electricity development aims to erect an estimated Infrastructure Roadmap. 12,348 solar PV panels with a nameplate rating of 540 W. Other electrical generation For connecting projects, this will increase infrastructure is proposed on the site long-term access certainty, reduce including a skid mounted MV Power Station congestion, optimise network infrastructure, consisting of inverters, transformer, and and reduce the costs of project capital. switchgear. The PV arrangement will consist of approximately 147 ground mounted single It will also maximise benefits to consumers, axis trackers. The entire site area extends to support appropriate planning outcomes for approximately 90.5 hectares and is primarily local communities and support local jobs and flat agricultural lands currently predominantly development outcomes. used for the cultivation of crops. The proposed development area is generally flat, Submissions will be accepted over six weeks rectangular in shape and comprises until 5pm Friday 30 April. We will also host a approximately 15 hectares. public webinar in mid-April. To stay across Contact: Henry Sun further updates and opportunities to input to Chief Executive Officer REZ delivery, including the forthcoming Tel: (02) 9264 9889 webinar, please request to join our mailing list Email: [email protected] by writing to [email protected]. You can find out more about other upcoming Central-West Orana consultation on the Electricity Infrastructure Renewable Energy Zone Access Roadmap at energy.nsw.gov.au/government- and-regulation/electricity-infrastructure- Scheme consultation roadmap#-consultation-. 22 March Today we are releasing an Issues Paper seeking submissions on the best model and characteristics for the forthcoming Central- West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Access Scheme – a major milestone in our Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap consultation timeline. Page 3 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) Our hydrogen jobs plan AGL’s Chief Operating Officer, Markus Brokhof said batteries will be an important part of the 23 March technology mix needed to deliver Australia’s We will build, own and operate a world energy needs in the decades ahead. leading Hydrogen Power Station under a Malinauskas Labor Government. “This project will play a critical role in transforming the reliability of renewables in This station will harness South Australian Victoria, providing essential firming capacity renewable energy to supply cleaner and and storage,” Mr Brokhof said. cheaper power. “With the commissioning of Loy Yang A in We will also build one of the world’s largest 1985, the Latrobe Valley has a long and proud hydrogen electrolyser facilities to produce of history of generating electricity to hydrogen from water using excess renewable thousands of Australian households and energy. businesses. And a hydrogen storage facility, holding two “The region will continue to play an important months’ operation, will provide additional role in providing reliable and affordable capacity when required. energy - this project is part of both the AGL and regions’ transition and path to a lower That’s our Hydrogen Jobs Plan - powering new emissions future. jobs and industry. “It is through low emission firming We can follow the world on energy policy and technologies like batteries that we can create see jobs go interstate and offshore.