Green light given to 250MW Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro project in QLD

The Etheridge Shire Council has granted Development Approval (DA) to Genex Power’s 250MW Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro project (K2-Hydro), bringing the project one step closer to commencing major construction activities.

“The DA is one of the last remaining milestones in the K2-Hrydro permitting process which is required prior to financial close and then construction,” Genex CEO James Harding said.

K2-Hydro is part of the Kidston Hydro-Solar Project Stage 2 (K2) in North Queensland, which includes a 270MW solar farm located approximately 270 kilometres north west of Townsville.

K2 is going to be built at the site of the old Kidston gold mine. K2-Hydro will utilise the existing pits at the mine to provide approximately eight hours of storage for the generated power from the solar farm.

“The Etheridge Shire Council is very supportive of Genex’s pumped storage hydro project and the significant job creation and economic development it will bring in the region,” Mayor Warren Devlin said.

The entire Kidston project will comprise of a 50MW solar farm that was completed under Stage 1; a 250MW pumped storage hydro and 270MW solar farm which will be completed under Stage 2; and a proposed 150MW wind farm which will be delivered under Stage 3.

In April of this year, the Kidston 2 solar farm (K2-Solar) was given the green light for development by the Etheridge Shire Council.

K2-Hydro is on track to begin major construction in 2019.

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Source: Genex Power; Renew Economy; PV Magazine