Australia’s biggest renewable energy project “Snowy 2.0” pumped storage hydro scheme has encountered a construction problem and is badly delayed, as reported in this video from ABC, the Australian public service broadcast service.
So here’s my solution to unstick the stuck tunnel boring machine and get this project back on course.
Snowy 2.0 – TBM Florence + Headrace Tunnel Rescue Plan.
- Dig the TBM out and dismantle it ready for moving.
- Cut out a long headrace pipe cutting through the soft ground until hard ground is reached.
- Move the TBM to tunnel through the hard ground.
The TBM Florence Entrance Tunnel seems to be more bother than it is worth. Whilst the headrace can easily begin at the (upper) Tantangara reservoir as a cut and cover for a headrace pipe, the headrace route is 16km long and with up to 400 metres of rock above the route, that’s too deep cover and too far to go for a practical cutting-only surface solution here.
The other thing which occurred was to convert the original Snowy Hydro scheme to pumped hydro operation throughout, adding up to 4GW of pumping power.
In 2012, a few of Tumut-3 turbines were upgraded for 600MW of pumped hydro.
Why not upgrade the rest of the Tumut-3 turbines for additional pumping power?
Could Tumut 1 & 2, Murray 1 & 2 etc. be upgraded for up to 4GW of pumping power?
You’d have to replace turbines with pump-turbines and then add pumps to the tunnels and maybe make a few other minor alterations but I think it might work out at good value compared to the cost overrun on Snowy 2.0.
Update March 2023
Snowy Hydro didn’t get back to me, ignoring my rescue plan and instead fitting out TBM Florence to use slurry for soft-ground tunnelling, which is a very slow and plodding way to proceed with an optional access tunnel. Must have decided that they weren’t in any slurry. 😉
Update October 2023
ABC News in depth documentary – Inside the engineering megaproject that went horribly wrong
See also ABC: A sinkhole, toxic gas and the $2 billion mistake behind Snowy 2.0’s blowout
Truth behind Snowy 2.0 cost blowout buried with Florence, Senate Estimates hears
According to the Nationals’ Ross Cadell, a copy of the 110-page Snowy 2.0 reset report requested by the Senator arrived with 44 pages fully redacted and only 14 pages completely unredacted – many of which were press releases that had already been made public.
Discovery, but not yet disclosure. In my opinion, someone should take legal action to get that reset report published in full.
Australia’s Freedom of Information laws
“The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) requires agencies to publish information provided to an applicant under FOI unless it contains personal information.”
Update March 2024
What’s the scam with Snow Hydro 2.0 Chris – are they boring a secret bottomless money pit?
See also –
Snowy 2.1 – pumping up from Blowering Reservoir
Snowy 2.0 design botch – water hammer
Snowy 2.0 Headrace Surge Shaft & Tank Design
Active feral horse shooters blackmail Snowy 2.0
Scottish Scientist 
The vultures are circling around Snowy 2.0.
– Senate Estimates
– Kosciuszko National Park
– Batteries
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