| Pumped storage


is needed in the mix to play an important role during the clean energy transition.”


Ambitions AGL recently announced the acquisition of 100%


ownership of two pumped hydro energy storage projects held by Upper Hunter Hydro Top Trust and its trustee (UHH). On current designs, the projects at Glenbawn and Glennies Creek plan to provide 770MW 10-hour and 623MW 10-hour pumped hydro energy storage capacity respectively with the future opportunity for integrated wind farms. This acquisition adds to AGL’s growing development pipeline and the company says it is encouraged by the NSW government’s decision to maintain 8+ hours as the definition for long duration storage as well as its increased targets for long duration storage. Brokhof says government support will be required to help bring these critical projects to market, while the attractiveness of pumped hydro is its long technical lifetime which can range between 80 and 100 years.


In February the Australian Energy Market Operator Services’announced that three projects - two batteries and, for the first time, a pumped storage project - were selected in its latest New South Wales Roadmap tender, nearly tripling the scheme’s supported energy storage capacity to 1.03 GW and 13.79 GWh, surpassing the 1 GW target. The ACEN Phoenix pumped storage project is


located near Lake Burrendong and offers a storage capacity equivalent to around 15 hours duration. With a target year of operation of 2031 the scheme will generate 800MW and 11,990MWh. Meanwhile, over at the Kidston pumped storage


project in Queensland, a major construction milestone was reached at the end of April 2025, with the successful installation of the spiral case and stay ring assembly for Unit 2. The work was carried out by EPC contractor JV (John Holland and McConnell Dowell), with support from Andritz’s technical advisors..


First for Norway Norway’s Statkraft has contracted AFRY to conduct


a feasibility study on optimising the operation of Norway’s largest pumped storage power plant in Saurdal. The study aims to double the plant’s capacity to store surplus renewable energy, enhancing consistent energy supply during peak demand periods. The Saurdal power plant is one of the largest


hydropower plants in Norway with a total capacity of 640MW, and an annual generation of approximately 1400GWh. AFRY’s study will assess the feasibility of converting the existing Francis turbines into pump turbines, enabling the plant to pump water back into the reservoirs during periods of surplus electricity on the grid. This would effectively transform the system into a large-scale energy storage solution, ensuring predictable energy availability during peak demand periods.


“Norway has outstanding hydropower resources.


We are proud to contribute our expertise and advanced technology insights gained from similar projects in other markets to enhance the efficiency and reliability of the Saurdal pumped storage plant” says Ernst Zeller, Acting Head of Hydropower at AFRY.


German construction Construction at the Rudolf Fettweis plant in the


Murg Valley has reached a key milestone with the completion of the crane runway beams. The upgrade, led by PORR Tunnelbau for EnBW Energie Baden- Württemberg AG, is part of the plant’s transformation into a pumped storage power facility, scheduled for completion in 2027.


In mid-February, the construction team successfully


lifted the crane into position, enabling the next phase of the project to proceed. Tunnel work within the cavern resumed at the end of February. Meanwhile, excavation on the Schwarzenbach access tunnel began in early February. This tunnel will connect the surge tank to the shaft head cavern. Raise-boring work, scheduled for summer 2025, will create a circular shaft drilled from bottom to top along a pilot bore. This work is essential for further construction phases.


Indian projects


Over in India, AFRY has been selected to provide detailed design engineering for Greenko’s 1800MW Shahpur pumped storage hydropower project in Rajasthan. AFRY’s responsibilities include detailed design work, construction supervision, and on-site engineering support through a resident engineer. “This is a landmark moment for the renewable


energy development in the region, and we are proud to be confirmed as Greenko’s trusted partner for this new project – a testament to our team’s expertise and dedication in accelerating the energy transition, demonstrated in previous collaborations,” said Sai Seela, Managing Director of AFRY India. Greenko previously developed the Pinnapuram


project, one of the world’s largest integrated renewable energy storage systems, featuring solar, wind, and pumped hydro elements. AFRY served as the principal design consultant for that pumped storage plant as well. Another recent major development in the country is the commissioning by GE Vernova Inc. of the first of four 250MW variable speed units at the Tehri Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant in Uttarakhand. The project is part of the Tehri Hydropower Complex operated by THDC India Limited. Once all four units are operational, the complex will


reach a total capacity of 2.4GW, making it the largest hydropower facility in the country. The expanded reservoir is also expected to support the region with irrigation and drinking water. “With this project, Tehri will become India’s first power plant to use variable speed pumped storage technology and the country’s most modern hydropower station. With fast transition between the turbine and pump operation, the four new units are expected to enable power control, leading to significantly improved grid flexibility. These are all crucial capabilities as more renewables are integrated into the country’s energy mix,” said Frederic Ribieras, CEO of GE Vernova’s hydropower business. GE Vernova is providing a complete “water to wire” solution for the Tehri project, including hydropower generation equipment, power electronics, and controls. The company is supplying four variable speed doubly fed induction motor-generators and pump turbines, integrated with converters and control systems.


Above: Rudolf Fettweis plant in Forbach © EnBW, Ingo Kamuf


Below: GE Vernova has commissioned India’s first variable speed pumped storage unit at India’s Tehri project. Credit: GE Vernova


www.waterpowermagazine.com | July 2025 | 13


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