{"id":300354,"date":"2021-06-08T13:13:06","date_gmt":"2021-06-08T03:13:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=300354"},"modified":"2025-09-24T14:20:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T04:20:21","slug":"powerful-plan-for-borumba-dam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2021\/06\/08\/powerful-plan-for-borumba-dam\/","title":{"rendered":"Powerful Plan For Borumba Dam"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The existing pumped hydro power station at Wivenhoe Dam (Photo: CS Energy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

June 8, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

The development of a pumped hydro power station at Borumba Dam, north-east of Jimna, has moved a step closer.<\/p>\n

The State Government announced on Tuesday it would spend $22 million to develop a detailed design and cost analysis of the project.<\/p>\n

The plan is to develop a one gigawatt power station which would have double the generation potential and triple the energy storage of the existing pumped hydro station at Wivenhoe Dam.<\/p>\n

Pumped hydro balances the electricity network, using power generated from other sources, including solar and wind farms, and “storing” it for later use.<\/p>\n

Unneeded power in the grid pumps water to a higher elevation; when electricity is needed, the water is released and runs through turbines to generate electricity.<\/p>\n

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Borumba Dam had the potential to become the State\u2019s largest pumped hydro station, powering an estimated 1.5 million homes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMore pumped hydro means more long-term, reliable energy and jobs for Queenslanders,\u201d the Premier said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy government has been exploring potential sites for pumped hydro since 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re prioritising Borumba because of its existing dam infrastructure, land access and location within the Southern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will deliver clean energy and support thousands of jobs into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Powerlink – a State Government-owned corporation – will undertake the business case, which is expected to take up to 24 months and include consultation with a\u00a0range of stakeholders, including Seqwater, the Department of Environment and Science, councils, the local community, environmental groups and Traditional Owners.<\/p>\n

Treasurer Cameron Dick said the business case would include detailed engineering and design, hydrological modelling and geological testing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re investing $22 million to potentially unlock a multi-billion-dollar construction project that would leverage billions more in clean energy investment and support thousands of jobs,\u201d the Treasurer said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an investment in jobs and renewable power that can be used at any time of the day to feed Queensland consumers and Queensland industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said the benefits of having pumped hydro as part of a diversified energy mix was proven last month when Callide Power Station went offline.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were able to ramp up the Wivenhoe Hydroelectric Station to provide critical generation support and stabilise the network,” he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPumped hydro storage is flexible, reliable, and complements renewable energy generation such as solar and wind.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why Queensland needs more of it as we progress to 50 per cent renewables by 2030.<\/p>\n

\u201cBorumba Dam is already a hub of activity with water skiing, camping, barbecues and picnics on the lake front and this possible expansion will see that grow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr de Brenni said if Borumba moved ahead, the Federal Government should contribute to the capital cost.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re talking about nation building infrastructure,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery other State has had energy projects built by the Commonwealth \u2013 Queenslanders deserve their share.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Together with solar, wind continues to be the cheapest source of new-build energy (Photo: CSIRO)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The State Government’s announcement that it is exploring a pumped hydro future for Borumba Dam coincides with the release by the CSIRO of the latest GenCost report.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every year the CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) consult with industry stakeholders to estimate the cost to generate electricity for new power plants in Australia.<\/p>\n

The 2020-21 report, released on Tuesday, has found that solar and wind continue to be the cheapest sources of new electricity generation capacity.<\/p>\n

A CSIRO spokesperson said this year\u2019s report used a new, more accurate approach for analysing the cost of renewables to include “integration” costs such as storage and new transmission infrastructure.<\/p>\n

However, it still found solar and wind continue to be the cheapest sources of new-build electricity generation.<\/p>\n

The report also concluded that:<\/strong><\/p>\n