ATCO to acquire rights to build 325 MW Central West Pumped Storage Hydro Project near Yetholme

ATCO has announced it has reached an agreement with Altura Group to acquire the rights to develop the 325 MW Central West Pumped Storage Hydro Project near Yetholme, New South Wales, Australia. 

The 325 MW pumped storage hydro project will be capable of providing 2,600 MWh 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 from Bathurst, adjacent to the proposed Central West-Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWOREZ).  It is in close proximity to significant renewable energy resources and a 330kV grid connection supporting the Sydney load center.

The project is currently in the project preparation or development phase, with the project construction expected to commence in early 2023 and operations in late 2025. The Central West Pumped Storage Hydro Project is expected to create 200 jobs during the three-year construction phase of the project and 30 ongoing jobs during the life of the project.