Global infrastructure and energy supplier ATCO has agreed to acquire the rights to develop the 325-megawatt Central West Pumped Storage Hydro Project in Central West New South Wales, Australia.
The planned acquisition from Altura Group marks ATCO’s first renewable energy investment on Australia’s east coast and expansion into the National Electricity Market (NEM). The 325-megawatt pumped storage hydro project will be capable of providing 2,600 megawatt hours of stored energy for a period of up to eight hours when required, ensuring low-cost, long-duration energy storage.
The project is located near Yetholme, 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from Bathurst, adjacent to the proposed Central West-Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWOREZ). It is close to significant renewable energy resources and a 330-kilovolt grid connection supporting the Sydney load center.
The project has the potential to become an important element of the NSW government’s CWOREZ through large-scale