Andritz has received an order from the EPC contractors McConnell Dowell and John Holland to supply the electro-mechanical equipment for the 250MW Kidston pumped storage plant in North Queensland, Australia.
Co-located with a solar plant, Kidston marks Australia’s first pumped storage plant for more than 40 years. Commissioning of the plant is expected in 2024.
The Andritz scope of supply comprises design, manufacturing, supply, transportation, erection, and commissioning of two 125MW reversible pump turbine units as well as full operation and maintenance services for more than 10 years.
The pumped storage plant was developed in a location by utilising two open pits from an abandoned gold mine. Once filled up with water, it will operate as a closed-loop system and generate, store and dispatch renewable energy on demand during peak periods, capable of supplying enough sustainable and clean electrical energy for more than 280,000 Australian households. Additionally, the plant can be operated in a synchronous condenser mode to provide grid services such as reactive power management and synchronous inertia.
This order not only affirms Andritz’s position in the Australian hydropower market, but also for pumped storage technology, which plays an important role in providing grid stability to cope with volatile solar and wind power supplies. The combination of hydro equipment supplies with asset management services also showcases Andritz’s diversified product and service portfolio for all applications and demands in the hydropower business.
