The Capricornia Energy Hub is a proposed pumped hydroelectric energy storage facility (PHES), proposed wind farm, and proposed solar farm, located approximately 80km west of Mackay.
The project team is prioritising progressing the PHES and is currently undertaking field, environmental and technical studies on the proposed PHES which is expected to commence construction in 2026 and be operational in 2031.
The site is located on two large rural landholdings in the Mackay Hinterland on Widi Country, downstream of Sunwater’s existing Eungella Dam. It is a proposed 1.4GW energy hub that, when fully operational, will deliver dispatchable green energy into the grid to power an estimated 900,000 Queensland homes.
The PHES and associated infrastructure will create approximately 600 jobs during peak construction and 65 jobs during operations. John Carr, Project CEO and Director of the Capricornia Energy Hub will present the project at a Connecting Industry Luncheon in Gladstone on august 20. For more information and tickets, connect here.
The project will contribute toward local, state and federal government policies and goals relating to greenhouse gas reduction, renewable energy generation, the transformation of the electricity network, affordable energy and local employment.
The Capricornia Pumped Hydroelectric Scheme is now a Coordinated Project. You can learn about what that means on the Office of the Coordinator-General website by connecting here. To download a project fact sheet, connect here.
The project has a 300m height difference or “head” between the upper and lower reservoir. The pump station will be below the lower reservoir in terms of height but sit above ground. This line will then link up with a pre-existing 275 KV transmission line on the Turrawulla Station property, which in turn connects to the Nebo-Strathmore substation.
Eungella Station will host the wind farm and pumped hydro system, while neighbouring Turrawulla Station will host the transmission cable. CEH team leader Luke McDonald (pictured) said the owners of the property were supportive of the project and arrangements were in place to host the infrastructure.
“We will buy a portion of Eungella Station upon which the pumped hydro exists and we will sublease part of Eungella Station for the wind farm,” Mr McDonald said.
“We won’t be inundating any third party property, any state forest or anything.”
