Planning Approval secured for 1 GW Pumped Hydro Project in Australia

Zen Energy has secured approval from Australia’s WaterNSW to turn degraded coal industry land at Nattai on the escarpment above the lake into a Pumped Hydro project. 

The proposed 1 GW Western Sydney Pumped Hydro project will be able to store and supply up to eight continuous hours of ‘firming’ energy, and will provide electricity to the equivalent of 500,000 homes.

Located 24 km away from Warragamba Dam and drinking water treatment, the project will also be mostly underground: pumping water from Lake Burragorang through tunnels to a reservoir located on the former coal industry land. When demand is high, water is released to drive underground turbines and send renewable power into the electricity grid.

Numerous studies, consultations and co-designs with Traditional Owners, local residents and other stakeholders will now occur. If all approvals and a social licence are secured, construction could begin in 2027 and be operational by 2031.