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Team Somerset tours pumped hydro facility
Somerset Regional Council councillors and senior management joined CleanCo for an educational tour of the Wivenhoe Pumped Storage Hydro Power Station on Tuesday, 12 November...
Somerset Regional Council councillors and senior management joined CleanCo for an educational tour of the Wivenhoe Pumped Storage Hydro Power Station on Tuesday, 12 November.
The facility is a one-of-a-kind in Queensland and generates 570MW out of Wivenhoe Dam.
Water is pumped uphill from Wivenhoe Dam into Splityard Creek Dam, generally while solar output is high and supply is greater than demand.
Councillor Kylee Isidro, Mayor Jason Wendt and Councillor Brett Freese (middle) with CleanCo staff Julie, Jonathan, Herman and Cristal.
The water is then stored until it is required to support energy generation during peak demand times.
Commissioned in 1984, the facility is celebrating its 40th anniversary and has become integral to balancing Queensland’s electricity grid.
Station operator CleanCo is a Queensland Government owned clean energy company.
Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt, Councillor Kylee Isidro and Councillor Brett Freese at Wivenhoe Pumped Storage Hydro Power Station.
Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt said CleanCo’s tour was insightful and demonstrated the importance of the 40-year-old asset.
“As Australia adopts more renewable energy infrastructure, storage assets like pumped hydro will need to play their part,” Cr Wendt said.
“When there’s no sun or wind, we rely on assets like this to continue powering our homes, and it’s a privilege to have such an important facility in Somerset’s own backyard.”
Cr Wendt said it was amazing to see the sheer scale and power of the facility.
“We often take our energy for granted, so having an inside look at the Wivenhoe Pumped Storage Hydro Station was a really positive and eye-opening experience for our councillors and directors,” Cr Wendt said.
Councillors were exposed to the inner workings of the pumped hydro facility.
Wivenhoe Power Station Site Manager Herman Porter welcomed Councillors and senior management to the facility.
“The Wivenhoe Pumped Storage Hydro Power Station has been part of Somerset’s landscape for forty years, and that local connection is key to everything we do here,” Mr Porter said.
“From environmental stewardship to bolstering Queensland’s energy future, CleanCo is committed to building partnerships that benefit both the community and our mission to deliver reliable, clean energy for Queensland.
“Inviting Mayor Wendt, Somerset Councillors and Directors to experience this asset firsthand helps build a shared understanding of the critical role pumped hydro plays in powering Queensland.”